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Mike Baker
Looking to diversify and protect your hard earned assets? Well, just schedule a free consultation call 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 learn how to convert an existing IRA or 401k into a gold IRA. Again, it's simple. Just text PDB to the number 989-898. It's Monday, the 14th of July. Welcome to the PDB Afternoon Bulletin. I'm Mike Baker, your eyes and ears on the world stage. All right, let's get brief. First up, an errant drone strike by Israel has killed 10 people, most of them children filling water containers at a central Gaza refugee camp. On Sunday, we'll discuss the implications for the ongoing war as Israeli officials admit to the tragic error. And later in the show, Russia and China's top diplomats met on Sunday to discuss relations with the US and the ongoing war in Ukraine. The pair vowed even deeper cooperation. Oh, that's nice. Between the two nations at a time when the relationship between President Trump and Vladimir Putin significantly deteriorated. First, today's afternoon spotlight. We begin with an update out of Gaza, where 10 civilians, including six children, were killed on Sunday in an Israeli airstrike that mistakenly hit a water distribution point in central Gaza. According to sources on the ground that spoke with the BBC, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a crowd queuing with empty jerry cans to fill it a water tanker in the Al Nusrat, a refugee camp. In addition to the dead, the resulting blast injured 17 people, among them seven children who were treated at Nusrat's Al Awda Hospital. In video footage of the aftermath verified by the BBC, dozens of people can be seen rushing to help the wounded lying among scattered yellow jerry cans and water containers. One local Palestinian told Francis afp, quote, we woke up to the sound of two large explosions. Our neighbor and his children were under the rubble, end quote. Officials with the Israeli military were quick to acknowledge the deadly incident, saying there had been a technical error while they were targeting an Islamic Jihad terrorist cell in the area, which caused the munition from the drone to fall dozens of meters short of its intended target. The IDF said they are aware of the resulting casualties in the area and that the incident is under internal review to determine what exactly went wrong. In a statement, Israeli officials said, quote, the IDF regrets any harm to uninvolved civilians, adding that they always work to mitigate civilian harm, quote, as much as possible. The deadly mishap occurred as The IDF intensified aerial strikes across Gaza amid ongoing but fragile ceasefire talks with Hamas, which remain deadlocked frankly over the extent of an eventual Israeli withdrawal from the battered enclave and the issue of Hamas disarming and abandoning control and power in Gaza. The strike triggered fresh debate over Israel's tactics in the enclave, which critics say unnecessarily endanger the lives of civilians. Gaza's Civil Defense Agency, which we should stress is a Hamas controlled entity, claims that more than 40 civilians were killed across Gaza on Sunday in strikes on markets and residential buildings. Separately, representatives for the International Committee of the Red Cross said they've seen a sharp uptick in civilian deaths. Officials said their teams have treated more, quote, mass casualty cases at its Rafa Field hospital over the past six weeks than they had during the previous 12 months of fighting. On Saturday alone, the group said they had treated 132 patients, quote, suffering from weapon related injuries and that 31 had died. In a statement, the Red Cross group said, quote, the alarming frequency and scale of these mass casualty incidents underscore the horrific conditions civilians in Gaza are enduring now. Israel has not commented on the broader claims of civilian casualties, but said Sunday that their forces had struck more than 150 terror targets throughout the Strip over the past 24 hours. Hamas, as has been independently verified many times, embed themselves in their operations inside population centers to use their own civilians as human shields, greatly obviously complicating the picture on the ground. Meanwhile, aid workers say the situation inside Gaza has become dire for Palestinian civilians. According to a report from Reuters, water shortages have risen sharply over the past few weeks as sanitation facilities close and fuel shortages slow desalination efforts. With water in scarce supply, the local population has become increasingly dependent on collection centers where they can fill up empty containers like the one that was hit on Sunday. As for a ceasefire, well, hopes remain alive, barely, although progress has reportedly once again stalled. So maybe hopes don't remain alive. As we discussed last week, both Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump expressed optimism that a ceasefire can soon be reached, one that would involve a 60 day truce and see the release of 10 of the remaining live hostages, but has been the case in numerous past attempts. Major disagreements remain with Hamas over how far Israeli forces would withdraw during the 60 day cease fire. The terror group is also seeking assurances from the US that Israel will commit to negotiating a permanent end to the war during the period of the ceasefire. Israeli leaders, meanwhile, insist that Hamas relinquish their governing power in the enclave, disarm and dismantle their military wing. If Hamas cannot meet these, quote, fundamental conditions, Netanyahu says Israel will be forced to achieve those goals through military force. But Netanyahu is facing increasing pressure from the families of hostages who gathered outside his office in Jerusalem on Sunday to demand a deal, even if it comes at the cost of ending the war. As a reminder, there are still 50 hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza, though Israel believes roughly half are deceased. All right, up next, Russia and China's top diplomats meet to discuss relations with the US and the ongoing war in Ukraine, vowing to deepen their alliance and to be the very best friends that anyone could ever have. I'll be right back. Hey, Mike Baker here. Let's talk personal finances, shall we? Let me ask you a question. Now, what if you could delay your next two mortgage payments? That's an intriguing thought, isn't it? I mean, it's right. Just imagine putting those two payments in your pocket and finally getting a little breathing room. That's what we're talking about here. Now, it's possible. When you call American Financing today, that's the company, American Financing. If you're feeling stretched by everyday expenses like groceries, auto payments, various bills are piling up, well, frankly, you're not alone. The truth is most Americans are putting those expenses on credit cards. And for many, well, there doesn't seem to be a way out. American Financing can show you how to use your home's equity, though, to pay off that debt. If you're feeling stressed and stretched, call American Financing today to learn how they can help. Their salary based mortgage consultants are helping homeowners just like you restructure their loans and consolidate debt, all without upfront fees. And their customers are saving an average of $800 a month. Now, I'm not a mathematician, but that's something like a $10,000 raise. It's fast, it's simple, and it could save your budget this summer. Call now. There's no obligation. It's just helpful information. Call 866-885-1881. That's 866-885-1881. Or just visit American Financing, Mike Baker here. Now, here's an important fact that you might have missed with everything else that's going on. July, and we're right in the middle of July is national grilling month, it's true. And Tritails Beef, a terrific company, is helping you celebrate it the American way over a fire with real beef raised by real ranchers. Tritails, you see, is a fifth generation family run ranch in Texas. They're delivering pasture, raised grain, finished beef with zero shortcuts, no middlemen. It's simple great beef delivered straight from their ranch to your front door. And right now you can get $10 off their 20 pound ground beef bundle plus two free flat iron steaks. Just head to tribe.compdb that's tribe.compdb Stock up before July 22nd and fill your freezer. In celebration of National Grilling Month. Again, go to tribe.com PDB Today, power.
Miranda Devine
Politics and the people behind the headlines. I'm Miranda Devine, New York Post columnist and the host of the brand new podcast Pod Force One. Every week I'll sit down for candid conversations with Washington's most powerful disruptors, lawmakers, newsmakers and even the population president of the United States. These are the leaders shaping the future of America and the world. Listen to podforce one with me, Miranda Devine every week on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcast. You don't want to miss an episode.
Bill O'Reilly
Hey, Bill O'Reilly here, host of the no Spin News corporate media programs. They're often lazy and dishonest. You know that the podcast world filled with misleading bomb throwers masking important issues that directly impact you. The no Spin News is here to counteract that we are a fact based, honest and unaffiliated broadcast. Our purpose is to inform you and give the best assessment of the situation of whether it's political or cultural. Please listen to the no Spin News with me, Bill O'Reilly on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever podcasts are found. Remember, trust is earned.
Mike Baker
Welcome back to the AFTERNOON bulletin. Russia and China's top diplomats met on Sunday vowing deeper coordination on global flashpoints and signaling their defiance of the US Led international order. Now what they failed to acknowledge, of course, was that key global flashpoints, meaning Ukraine and Taiwan, are their own doing. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, or sco, summit, which kicks off tomorrow. The meeting was more than symbolic. It underscored the growing alliance between the two authoritarian regimes since declaring their so called, quote, no limits partnership back in February 2022, just days before Moscow launched its full scale invasion of Ukraine. I'm sure that was a coincidence. Russia and China have positioned themselves as ideological and geopolitical counterweights to the West. According to a statement from Russia's Foreign Ministry, Lavrov and Wang discussed, quote, relations with the United States and prospects for resolving the Ukrainian crisis. Yes, because as we all know, Russia is very keen to resolve that Ukrainian crisis. But the real message was broader, that Moscow and Beijing intend to present a unified front of sorts across key global hotspots from Eastern Europe to the South China Sea. Both sides reaffirm their commitment to strengthening ties in multilateral forms, including the UN Security Council, BRICS, the G20 and APEC, where they have increasingly challenged Western norms and attempted to bend international institutions to their strategic vision. China's Foreign Ministry struck a similarly assertive tone in their statement, emphasizing that the two nations would, quote, promote the development and revitalization of each other and work jointly to meet the, quote, challenges brought by a turbulent and changing world. Lavrov made clear that under the, quote, strategic guidance of Presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, Moscow is prepared to expand cooperation in various fields and achieve, quote, new results in bilateral relations. The Beijing stop followed Lavrov's visit to Pyongyang, where North Korean leader Kim Jong un reaffirmed his regime's, quote, unconditional support for Russia's war in Ukraine. As we've discussed here on the bdb, that support has gone beyond rhetoric, obviously, as Pyongyang has supplied ammunition and set troops to bolster Russian positions along segments of the front line. But Beijing's approach, well, it's been more calibrated. Though it continues to call for a political settlement and to stop short of endorsing Putin's invasion outright. China has resisted Western pressure to isolate Russia and deepened ties across military, energy and infrastructure sectors. But basically, the Beijing regime is talking out of both sides of their mouth. They may try to claim without smirking that is that Beijing is neutral and just wants peace. But the reality, backed by evidence, is that Xi Jinping's multifaceted support for Putin has kept Moscow's war machine running. US Officials say Chinese made components are increasingly showing up on the battlefield and some reports allege the presence of Chinese nationals among Russian ranks. The two diplomats also discussed Iran's nuclear program and the situation on the Korean peninsula, though China's readout offered no real specifics. For Washington, the growing convergence between Moscow and Beijing presents a strategic conundrum. And no, that's not the first time I've used the word conundrum. On the pdp, the Trump administration characterizes China as America's foremost long term strategic rival, while describing Russia as its most acute nation state threat. Sunday's show of unity between the two nations served to reinforce those assessments. And that, my friends, is the PDB afternoon bulletin for Monday the 14th of July. Now, if you have any questions, or comments, please reach out to me at pdb@the firsttv.com and as my old Grandpa used to say while sitting on the front porch whittling and listening to his beloved Brooklyn Dodgers, if you want to listen to the PDB ad free, he'd say, just become a premium member of the President's Daily Brief by visiting pdbpremium.com youm could say Grandpa was ahead of his time. I'm Mike Baker and I'll be back tomorrow. Until then, stay informed, stay safe, stay cool.
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The President's Daily Brief: Afternoon Bulletin Summary | July 14th, 2025
Hosted by Mike Baker, former CIA Operations Officer
Timestamp: 02:15
The afternoon bulletin opens with a somber update from Gaza, where an Israeli drone strike resulted in the tragic loss of 10 civilian lives, including six children. The strike targeted a water distribution point in the Al Nusrat refugee camp, Central Gaza. According to sources who spoke with the BBC, an Israeli drone erroneously fired a missile at a crowd queuing with empty jerry cans to fill a water tanker. The miscalculation caused the munition to fall dozens of meters short of its intended target, leading to the devastating outcome.
Notable Quote:
"We woke up to the sound of two large explosions. Our neighbor and his children were under the rubble."
— Local Palestinian Resident ([02:45])
Timestamp: 03:30
In the immediate aftermath, 17 individuals were injured, with seven children receiving treatment at Nusrat's Al Awda Hospital. Verified video footage by the BBC depicts chaos and desperation as residents rush to aid the wounded amidst scattered water containers.
Timestamp: 04:50
Israeli military officials swiftly acknowledged the incident, attributing the tragedy to a technical error during the targeting process of an Islamic Jihad terrorist cell in the area. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated,
Notable Quote:
"The IDF regrets any harm to uninvolved civilians and always works to mitigate civilian harm as much as possible."
— Israeli Military Spokesperson ([05:10])
The IDF has initiated an internal review to ascertain the precise cause of the malfunction and prevent future occurrences.
Timestamp: 06:40
This incident has ignited fresh debates regarding Israel's military tactics in Gaza, with critics arguing that such actions endanger civilian lives unnecessarily. Gaza's Civil Defense Agency, a Hamas-controlled entity, reports that over 40 civilians were killed on the same day due to strikes on markets and residential areas. Additionally, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) highlighted a significant surge in civilian casualties, noting that their Rafa Field hospital has treated more mass casualty cases in six weeks than in the preceding twelve months of conflict.
Notable Quote:
"The alarming frequency and scale of these mass casualty incidents underscore the horrific conditions civilians in Gaza are enduring now."
— ICRC Representative ([07:25])
Timestamp: 08:15
Amid these developments, ceasefire negotiations remain strained. Both Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump have expressed cautious optimism about reaching a ceasefire that would include a 60-day truce and the release of 10 remaining hostages. However, substantial disagreements with Hamas persist, particularly regarding the extent of Israeli withdrawal and Hamas's disarmament. Netanyahu faces mounting pressure from hostage families advocating for a deal to end the war, despite Israel believing that approximately half of the 50 hostages are already deceased.
Timestamp: 10:40
Transitioning to international relations, Mike Baker reports on the recent meeting between Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Held ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, the discussions signified a strengthened alliance between the two nations, further consolidating their stance against the US-led international order.
Notable Quote:
"Under the strategic guidance of Presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, Moscow is prepared to expand cooperation in various fields and achieve new results in bilateral relations."
— Sergei Lavrov ([11:05])
Since declaring their "no limits partnership" in February 2022, just before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the alliance between Moscow and Beijing has become a geopolitical counterbalance to Western influence. The diplomats addressed issues such as relations with the United States, the Ukrainian crisis, Iran's nuclear program, and the situation on the Korean peninsula.
Timestamp: 12:30
Both nations pledged to strengthen ties within multilateral frameworks like the UN Security Council, BRICS, G20, and APEC, aiming to challenge Western norms and steer international institutions towards their strategic visions.
Notable Quote:
"We will promote the development and revitalization of each other and work jointly to meet the challenges brought by a turbulent and changing world."
— China's Foreign Ministry Statement ([13:10])
The meeting also touched upon military and economic cooperation, with China providing components used in Russian military efforts, and reports suggesting the presence of Chinese nationals within Russian ranks on the battlefield.
Timestamp: 14:20
For the United States, this growing convergence between Moscow and Beijing presents a strategic dilemma, as the Biden administration continues to view China as the foremost long-term strategic rival and Russia as the most acute nation-state threat. This unity between Russia and China reinforces these assessments, highlighting the complex challenges facing the US in maintaining its global influence.
Mike Baker concludes the bulletin by emphasizing the critical nature of these developments. The Israeli drone strike underscores the human cost of the Gaza conflict and the ongoing difficulties in achieving a ceasefire, while the deepening Russia-China alliance signals a significant shift in global geopolitics, posing new challenges for the United States and its allies.
Final Notable Quote:
"If you want to listen to the PDB ad-free, just become a premium member of the President's Daily Brief by visiting pdbpremium.com."
— Mike Baker ([14:50])
Stay informed, stay safe, stay cool.
For more insights and detailed analyses, consider subscribing to The President's Daily Brief Premium.