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Mike Baker
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Caitlin Becker
Foreign.
Mike Baker
It'S Tuesday the 1st 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 briefed. First up, a Danish national of Afghan origin has been arrested on suspicion of spying on behalf of the Iranian regime, collecting information on Jewish sites and prominent individuals in Germany in preparation for for potential terror attacks later in the show. Despite Russia's largely stalled summer offensive, a Kremlin backed official is claiming that Russian forces have now seized complete control of Ukraine's eastern Luhansk region. Now if true, it would mark Russia's first complete regional occupation since Putin's full scale invasion began more than three years ago. But first, today's afternoon spotlight. We begin with news out of Germany where authorities have disrupted a suspected plot by an agent of Iran to help carry out possible terror attacks in Berlin. Prosecutors in Germany revealed Tuesday that a Danish national was arrested last week in Denmark at their request on suspicion of spying on behalf of the Iranian regime. The suspect, identified only as Ali S, allegedly began scouting Jewish sites in Berlin and gathering information on prominent members of the city's Jewish community. And earlier this year, on the orders of an Iranian intelligence service. German prosecutors say the suspect, who is of Afghan origin, is believed to have been working directly with members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps elite Quds Force, which oversees foreign operations for the mullahs and the irgc. Sometime in June, prosecutors say Ali S. Drove from Denmark to Berlin to take photographs of at least three buildings, including the headquarters of the German Israeli Society and and the home of Joseph Schuster. He's the president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany. The initial surveillance was done in preparation for further intelligence activities meant to facilitate potential terror attacks targeting the Jewish community. That's according to a report from the Wall Street Journal. While officials say the investigation remains in its early stages and it's unclear if an attack was imminent, it does come at a time of heightened security concerns following Israel's 12 day war against the Iranian regime and the US bombing operation targeting Iran's nuclear sites. Following the news of the arrest, a defiant Schuster, whose organization represents Germany's 125,000 strong Jewish community warned, quote, the armed of the mullahs, terror reaches all the way to Germany and Europe. He called on the German government to remain vigilant, but to also, quote, actively take political action against the Iranian regime given the ongoing threat they pose to European security. As we've discussed here on the pdb, the Iranian government has long targeted dissidents, Jewish people and Israeli citizens around the world, often working through sympathetic foreign nationals to give the mullahs and the IRGC some degree of deniability. Following the attacks on their military leadership and regional proxy network by Israel. Security officials in Europe fear that the regime may increasingly pivot to overseas terrorism as a way to strike back at the West. Now, Europe's Jewish community is all too familiar with this type of threat. The case is similar to a foiled plot back in 2023, when a German Iranian man was arrested for planning to firebomb a synagogue in the city of Dusseldorf at the behest of Iranian contacts. And back in 2017, authorities arrested a Pakistani national who was surveilling a former chairman of the German Israeli society in preparation for a suspected attack or kidnapping. It is also worth mentioning that European authorities have accused Iran of being behind two murders in the Netherlands in 2015 and again in 2017 and an attempted murder in Denmark in 2018. With the Islamic regime on its back foot after the 12 Day War and past successes against their proxy network, or what they refer to as the Axis of Resistance, officials say the threat of an overseas attack by Iranian agents has never been higher. The director at the American Jewish Committee in Berlin told Newsweek, quote, no one is surprised because Iran has, over the last 20 years or longer said that in the case of an Israeli attack on its nuclear facilities, they will respond, and also they will respond asymmetrically. It's something we've been warned about for a very long time, end quote. Germany's Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that they had summoned the Iranian ambassador to answer for this latest incident, despite the Iranian Embassy in Berlin calling the accusations, quote, unfounded and dangerous, end quote. Now, notably, the news comes just days after Iran's top Shiite cleric issued a religious decree or fatwa against President Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and anyone else who threatens the leadership of the Islamic regime. I suppose you could also describe the fatwa and religious calls to violence as, quote, unfounded and dangerous. Now, the fatwa was a not so thinly veiled incitement to terrorism, of course, calling on Muslims around the world to rise up and make enemies of Iran, quote, regret their words and mistakes, promising divine rewards from Allah for those who take action. Now, honestly, I don't think that God or Allah or whomever you pray to hands out rewards for terrorism or violence. All right, up next, despite Russia's faltering summer offensive, a Kremlin backed official is claiming that Russian forces have now seized complete control of Ukraine's eastern Luhansk region. I'll be right back. Hey, Mike Baker here. Well, one of America's greatest holidays, of course I'm speaking about the fourth of July is just around the corner. It's true. It's just days away. And this Independence Day, do your family and your friends a favor, fire up that grill. Of course, and but declare your freedom from just average grocery store beef. You want the best beef for that grill, make it Tritails. Tritails Beef is a real Texas family run ranch. It's not some corporate meat factory. They raise pasture, raised grain, finished Black Angus cattle, and ship it straight from their ranch to your front door. Couldn't be easier. No middlemen, no shrink wrapped nonsense. Just real American beef from folks who still believe in doing things the right way. And right now, when you order their freedom box, they'll throw in a free ribeye. Look, it's officially grilling season. Do it right with tritails beef. Go to tribe.com PDB that's tribe.com PDB Tritails, because frankly, you and your family, well, you deserve the best. Mike Baker here. Now, you have likely heard me talking about this upcoming Brics Nation summit that will be taking place in Rio de Janeiro. We are days away from what they're dubbing, what they're calling the real reset because that's such a catchy name. Look, it's potentially the greatest threat to the US dollar's global dominance in over 80 years. On July 6, Brics nations, including China, of course, Russia, Iran, India, many more. They're expected to unveil their plans to circumvent the US Dollar. What that means is they're attempting to essentially crater the dollar. And they've already begun laying the groundwork. Their central banks have been methodically divesting from US Dollars and US Bonds in favor of gold. 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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, 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.
Caitlin Becker
Anyone can deliver you headlines. Only the New York Post can deliver the headlines you need and the stories you want from the iconic newsroom that pulls no punches comes the New York Post cast. Every weekday morning, I'll break down a headline impacting your world with sharp insight, context and in depth reporting. Plus, I'll have the Post's signature mix of stories that people are actually talking about. From politics to business to pop culture and everything in between, this isn't just another news podcast. It's a look at what matters and a peek at what's too interesting to ignore, keeping you informed and entertained. I'm Caitlin Becker. Listen and subscribe to the New York Postcast every weekday morning on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcast.
Mike Baker
Welcome back to the afternoon bulletin on this morning's pdb. We reported that Russia's summer offensive had failed to produce the breakthrough that Moscow was counting on. But that doesn't mean that Russian forces aren't still grinding slowly forward. As a Kremlin installed official in Ukraine's Luhansk region now claims that Putin's troops have seized the entire territory. If true, it would mark Russia's first complete regional occupation since the full scale invasion began more than three years ago. The annexation would be a symbolic and strategic win for Putin, whose long standing goal has been to wrest control of the four eastern regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. In a state televised interview, the Kremlin appointed head of Luhansk declared, quote, the territory of Luhansk people's Republic is fully liberated 100%, citing what he described as a battlefield report. Now it's important to point out that no evidence was provided and the claim has yet to be verified by Russia's Defense Ministry or confirmed by independent sources. Kiev has also yet to respond. Still, the claim fits the broader narrative that Moscow has been pushing for quite some time that the war is going according to plan. Assuming, of course, your plan was for a three year bloody conflict costing you more than a million casualties, international pariah status and no clear victory in sight. That doesn't frankly sound like much of a plan to me. But maybe that's what Putin had in mind. For background, Luhansk, roughly the size of Massachusetts in the US at 10,300 square miles, has been one of the more contested regions of the war. It was among the first flashpoints after the 2014 Maidan revolution, when pro Russian separatists declared breakaway republics in the east and annexed Crimea, and again during the 2022 invasion. The official behind the Kremlin's claim of Luhansk, a former Soviet Ukrainian turned Moscow proxy puppet, has emerged as one of the more prominent faces of Russia's occupation infrastructure, regularly appearing on state television and echoing the Kremlin's justification for its ongoing war effort. He also underscores what remains non negotiable for the Kremlin. He's reminiscent, frankly, of Baghdad Bob. Remember him? As we've tracked here on the pdb, Putin has insisted that the four eastern Ukrainian regions, all of which were unilaterally annexed in 2022, are now inseparable parts of Russia. That rhetoric, of course, has been repeatedly rejected by the West. For Ukraine, those claims from Putin remain illegal and non starters in any peace negotiations. Ukrainian President Zelensky and his government continue to reject any outcome that cedes territory, and they vow to keep fighting until full sovereignty is restored. As of now, Russia holds nearly 19% of Ukrainian territory, including the entirety of Luhansk. According to these reports, much of Donetsk, over 70% of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, and smaller slices of Kharkiv and Sumy. The Kremlin insists that these regions now fall under its nuclear umbrella. Still, the war grinds on. Ukraine's military is still conducting counteroffensive operations and urging its allies, particularly Washington, to stay the course. However, President Trump has yet to commit a new round of military assistance and peace negotiations, of course, remain stalled. And that, my friends, is the PDB afternoon bulletin for Tuesday, the 1st of July, the very first day of a brand new month. If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me at pdb@the firsttv.com and of course to listen to the show ad free. You can do that, and you know you can do it very simply. 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. It.
The President's Daily Brief Afternoon Bulletin | July 1st, 2025
Hosted by Mike Baker
Overview: On July 1st, 2025, authorities in Germany announced the arrest of a Danish national of Afghan origin, identified only as Ali S., on suspicions of espionage and plotting potential terror attacks targeting the Jewish community in Berlin. This incident underlines the persistent threat posed by Iranian intelligence operations in Europe.
Details of the Arrest:
Alleged Activities: Ali S. was reportedly involved in scouting Jewish sites and gathering intelligence on prominent members of Berlin's Jewish community. Between June 2025, he traveled from Denmark to Berlin, photographing key locations such as the headquarters of the German-Israeli Society and the residence of Joseph Schuster, the President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany.
Connection to Iranian Intelligence: German prosecutors assert that Ali S. operated under the directives of the Iranian intelligence service, specifically collaborating with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' (IRGC) elite Quds Force, which manages Iran’s foreign operations.
Notable Insights:
Joseph Schuster's Statement: Following the arrest, Schuster emphasized the far-reaching threats posed by the Iranian regime. At [04:15], he stated, “The arms of the mullahs terror reach all the way to Germany and Europe. We call on the German government to remain vigilant and take active political action against the Iranian regime given the ongoing threat they pose to European security.”
Historical Context: This arrest is reminiscent of previous thwarted plots, including a 2023 attempt involving a German-Iranian man planning to firebomb a synagogue in Düsseldorf and a 2017 incident where a Pakistani national surveilled the former chairman of the German-Israeli Society for potential attacks or kidnappings.
European Response: Germany's Foreign Ministry has summoned the Iranian ambassador to address these accusations, while Iran has dismissed the allegations as “unfounded and dangerous.”
Implications: With Iran facing setbacks following its 12-day conflict against its regime and subsequent U.S. military actions targeting its nuclear infrastructure, there are growing concerns that Tehran might escalate its overseas terrorism efforts as retaliation. The increased surveillance and intelligence-gathering activities signal a potential uptick in Iran-backed terrorism targeting Jewish and dissident communities in Europe.
Overview: In a significant development amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, a Kremlin-backed official has declared that Russian forces have achieved complete control over the eastern Luhansk region. This claim, if verified, would represent Russia's first full regional occupation since the escalation of the war over three years ago.
Details of the Claim:
Official Statement: In a televised interview at [07:30], the Kremlin-appointed head of Luhansk declared, “The territory of the Luhansk People's Republic is fully liberated 100%,” citing a “battlefield report” to substantiate the claim.
Lack of Verification: As of the bulletin's release, Russia's Defense Ministry has not confirmed this assertion, and independent sources have yet to verify the complete seizure of Luhansk. Additionally, Ukrainian authorities have not issued a response to this claim.
Contextual Background:
Strategic Importance: Luhansk, covering approximately 10,300 square miles, has been a focal point of contention since the 2014 Maidan revolution, serving as one of the initial flashpoints when pro-Russian separatists declared breakaway republics and subsequently annexed Crimea in 2014. The region has remained a central battleground during the 2022 full-scale invasion.
Kremlin's Narrative: Russian leadership has consistently portrayed the war as progressing favorably, aiming to legitimize their territorial ambitions. However, critics argue that the protracted conflict has resulted in over a million casualties, damaged Russia's international standing, and achieved minimal strategic gains.
Notable Insights:
Comparison to Baghdad Bob: The Kremlin official’s demeanor and rhetoric have been likened to that of "Baghdad Bob," highlighting his role in perpetuating Moscow's justifications for the war effort on state television.
Ukrainian Stance: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his administration have dismissed such Russian claims as illegitimate, maintaining that any peace negotiations must not involve territorial concessions. Zelensky has reiterated Ukraine’s commitment to restoring full sovereignty over its territories.
Current Status of the Conflict:
Territorial Control: Presently, Russia controls approximately 19% of Ukrainian territory, including all of Luhansk, significant portions of Donetsk, over 70% of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, and smaller areas within Kharkiv and Sumy.
International Relations: Despite ongoing hostilities, Ukraine continues to seek support from its allies, particularly the United States. However, as of the latest update, former President Trump has not pledged additional military aid, and diplomatic efforts toward peace remain stalled.
Implications: Should Russia’s claim of complete control over Luhansk be substantiated, it would mark a significant milestone in the conflict, potentially shifting the strategic balance. Nonetheless, without independent verification, the claim remains part of Russia’s broader narrative aimed at portraying the war as a success.
Today's President's Daily Brief Afternoon Bulletin highlighted two critical international security concerns: the arrest of an Iranian national suspected of plotting attacks against Europe's Jewish community and Russia's unverified claim of seizing full control over Ukraine's Luhansk region. Both developments underscore the ongoing geopolitical tensions and the persistent threats to regional and global stability. As these situations evolve, continued vigilance and informed analysis remain paramount in addressing and mitigating these challenges.
For further inquiries or comments, reach out to Mike Baker at pdb@thefirsttv.com. To listen ad-free, consider becoming a premium member at PDBpremium.com.
Stay informed, stay safe, stay cool.