PDB Afternoon Bulletin | March 26th, 2025: Gazans Stage Largest Anti-Hamas Protest Since War Began & Spy Agencies Issue Grave Warning Over Collaboration Between America's Foes

Summary

PDB Afternoon Bulletin | March 26th, 2025

Host: Mike Baker, Former CIA Operations Officer
Release Date: March 26, 2025
Podcast: The President's Daily Brief by The First TV

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1. Largest Anti-Hamas Protests Erupt in Gaza

In a significant shift within the Gaza Strip, Gaza residents staged the largest public demonstration against Hamas since the onset of the current conflict. Hosted by Mike Baker, the bulletin delves into the growing public dissent and its implications on the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Key Highlights:

• Massive Demonstrations: On Tuesday, thousands of Palestinians took to the streets in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, marking the largest anti-Hamas protest since the group's attacks on Israel in October 2023. Estimates from CNN confirm the unprecedented scale of these gatherings.

• Protesters' Voices: Demonstrators voiced their frustration and plea for peace, with chants such as, “For God’s sake, Hamas out. Hamas terrorists, and we want an end to the war” ([00:42]).

• Organized Calls for Action: A social media post from protest organizers urged further anti-Hamas demonstrations, stating, “Our voices must reach all the spies who sold our blood. Let them hear your voice. Let them know that Gaza is not silent and that there is a people who will not accept to be eradicated” ([00:42]).

• Suppression of Protests: Hamas responded swiftly and forcefully to suppress the dissent. Masked militants armed with guns and batons assaulted protesters, forcibly dispersing the gatherings. This crackdown highlights the group's determination to maintain control and silence opposition within Gaza.

• Declining Support for Hamas: Supporting the protests, a poll from the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research revealed a drop in Hamas's governing support from 46% in June to 36%. One protester encapsulated the sentiment by stating, “We refuse to die for anyone, for any party's agenda. Hamas must step down and listen to the voices of the grieving” ([00:42]).

• Implications for the Israel-Hamas Conflict: The demonstrations come a week after the fragile ceasefire broke down, leading to renewed Israeli military operations in Gaza. Notably, Hamas continues to hold 59 hostages, with at least 35 presumed dead.

Insights:

Mike Baker emphasizes the rarity of such protests and the potential impact on the dynamics within Gaza. The public's growing discontent with Hamas could signal a pivotal moment in the region's political landscape, potentially influencing future negotiations and stability.

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2. US Intelligence Warns of Deepening Adversarial Collaborations

Mike Baker transitions to a critical assessment of global threats, spotlighting a comprehensive 30-page threat assessment by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). The report underscores the escalating collaboration among China's, Russia's, Iran's, and North Korea's regimes to undermine U.S. interests internationally.

Key Highlights:

• Primary Adversaries: China is identified as the foremost threat, leveraging economic power, military presence, and influence campaigns to challenge U.S. dominance, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. The ODNI report predicts increased pressure on Taiwan in 2025 and continued territorial disputes in the South and East China Seas ([07:05]).

• Cyber Threats: China remains the most persistent cyber adversary, targeting both government and private sector networks. The nation is methodically pursuing advancements in artificial intelligence with the aim to surpass the U.S. by 2030.

• Russian Aggression: Russia poses an immediate military threat through its ongoing war in Ukraine. President Putin views the conflict as a legacy project and a defining confrontation with the West. The report suggests that leadership change in Moscow is unlikely, consolidating Putin's long-term regime stability ([07:05]).

• Iranian Nuclear Ambitions: While Iran has not restarted formal nuclear weapons development, its uranium stockpile has reached unprecedented levels for a non-nuclear state. National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard warns of rising momentum within the Iranian regime to pursue nuclear capabilities, compounded by continued research into chemical and biological weapons ([07:05]).

• North Korea's Militarization: Under Kim Jong Un, North Korea is expanding its weapons programs and arsenal with assistance from Russia, further destabilizing regional security dynamics.

• Collaborative Threats: The most alarming aspect is the deepening collaboration among these adversaries:

  • China and Russia: China supplies dual-use goods and key components to Russia, aiding in evading Western sanctions and recovering from military losses.
  • Iran and Russia: Iran has become Russia's primary drone supplier, receiving advanced military and cyber support in return.
  • North Korea and Russia: North Korea is sending munitions and combat troops to support Russia's war efforts, also gaining access to upgraded weapon systems and technology.

Notable Quotes:

• "Communist China is labeled the 'actor most capable of threatening US Interests globally,' even as it operates with more restraint than other U.S. adversaries" ([07:05]).
• "We refuse to die for anyone, for any party's agenda. Hamas must step down and listen to the voices of the grieving" ([00:42]).

Insights:

Baker highlights the strategic alliances forming among America’s primary adversaries, which pose multifaceted threats ranging from cyber warfare to direct military confrontations. The ODNI's assessment serves as a clarion call for the U.S. to recalibrate its national security strategy, addressing both existing and emergent challenges posed by these consolidating powers.

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Conclusion

Mike Baker wraps up the Afternoon Bulletin by reiterating the importance of staying informed about these critical developments. He encourages listeners to engage with the content by reaching out via email and subscribing to premium offerings for an ad-free experience.

Closing Remarks:

• Stay Informed: “Stay informed. Stay safe, stay cool,” Baker advises, underscoring the podcast's mission to equip listeners with essential knowledge to navigate and address the nation's pressing challenges ([07:05]).

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Contact Information:
For questions or comments, listeners can reach out to Mike Baker at [e-mail].

Subscribe:
To enjoy an ad-free experience, become a premium member by visiting PDBpremium.com.

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This summary encapsulates the key discussions from the March 26th, 2025 episode of The President's Daily Brief. The bulletin provides an in-depth analysis of significant geopolitical events, offering listeners a comprehensive understanding of the evolving challenges facing the United States and the broader international community.

Transcript

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[Mike Baker]

It's Wednesday, the 26th of March. 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, In a rare show of public dissent, scores of Gaza residents took to the streets on Tuesday to protest against Hamas. Now that's the largest public demonstration against the terror group inside the enclave since the war began. Later in the show, US spy agencies have issued a 30 page threat assessment warning that the usual suspects China, Iran, North Korea and Russia, America's four greatest adversaries, are increasingly working together to undercut US Interests abroad. But first, today's afternoon spotlight. I want to begin with our coverage of the Israel Hamas conflict as reports emerge that Hamas may be, and I caveat that with a big may, may be losing the support of some Gazans as frustrations mount over the group's handling of the war. On Tuesday, large crowds of Palestinians demonstrated against Hamas in northern Gaza, calling for an end to the war in what reports say is the biggest protest against the terror group in the enclave since their seventh October 2023 attacks on Israel. It was a rare show of dissent with thousands of people marching through the streets of Beit Lahia in northern Gaza. That's according to estimates from cnn. Now protesters could reportedly be heard chanting, quote, for God's sake, Hamas out. Hamas terrorists, and we want an end to the war. A social media post from the protest organizers called for a further nine anti Hamas demonstrations to take place on Wednesday with a caption reading, quote, our voices must reach all the spies who sold our blood. The message continued, quote, let them hear your voice. Let them know that Gaza is not silent and that there is a people who will not accept to be eradicated. Now, there have been small pockets of protests at times among local Palestinian residents of Gaza since the war began, but none match the scope of Tuesday's demonstrations. While opposition to Hamas among Gazans is very hard to gauge, a poll released last fall by the Palestinian center for Policy and Survey Research suggests the terror group's popularity has been decreasing for some time. It found that support among Gazans for Hamas to remain as a governing body for the enclave had fallen to just 36%, and that's down from 46% in polling that was released in June. One of Tuesday's protesters told a BBC reporter, quote, we refuse to die for anyone, for any party's agenda. Hamas must step down and listen to the voices of the grieving. Another could be heard shouting, quote, we don't want destruction, we don't want war. We want to live. End quote. Well, that seems reasonable. It will surprise no one to learn that Hamas fighters and supporters reportedly didn't take kindly to the public show of dissent and they moved in quickly to suppress the protests. Masked Hamas militants armed with guns and batons moved in on the crowds, assaulting and forcibly dispersing the protesters. Well huh, that doesn't sound like a group that says they support and promote the best interests of the Palestinian people. It does make you wonder if there will be campus protests in the US over Hamas suppression of the Palestinian people. Meanwhile, pro Hamas supporters throughout Gaza downplayed the significance of the demonstrations, calling the protesters traitors to their cause. The protests come roughly a week after the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas broke down and Israel resumed ground and air operations in Gaza, targeting the militant group's fighters and leadership. Now, as a reminder, Hamas is still holding 59 hostages, though at least 35 are presumed dead. Coming up next, U.S. senior officials got off their chat group long enough to issue a 30 page threat assessment warning that China, Iran, North Korea and Russia are increasingly working together to undercut U.S. interests abroad. I'll have those details when we come back. This podcast is brought to you in part by Stash Saving and investing can feel, well, impossible. But with Stash, it's not just possible, it's easy. Stash isn't just an investing app. It's a registered investment advisor that combines automated investing with dependable financial strategies to help you reach your goals faster. They'll provide you with personalized advice on what to invest in based on your goals or or if you just want to sit back and watch your money go to work, well, you can do that. Just opt into their award winning expert managed portfolio that picks stocks for you. Stash has helped millions of Americans reach their financial goals and starts at just $3 a month. Don't let your savings sit around. 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[Josh Hammer]

A China shop, Donald Trump came in to drain the swamp in Washington, D.C. but with his bold reform and rejuvenation 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.

[Mike Baker]

Welcome back to the Afternoon Bulletin. The US Is facing a rising tide of threats from China, Russia, Iran and North Korea, nations that are increasingly working together to chip away at American influence and power. That's the sobering warning from America's top intelligence officials in a new threat assessment released Tuesday by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, otherwise known by its acronym ODNI, because nobody likes an acronym like Washington, D.C. likes an acronym. In the report, Communist China is labeled the quote actor most capable of threatening US Interests globally, even as it operates with more restraint than other U.S. adversaries. Despite its ambitions to replace the U.S. as the world's superpower, Beijing, for its part, is avoiding direct confrontation but leaning heavily into coercive tactics, leveraging its economic might, military presence and a sprawling influence campaign to reshape the global order, especially in the Indo Pacific. The ODNI report forecasts that China will ramp up pressure on Taiwan in 2025 while continuing to push aggressive territorial claims in the south and East China seas. And while there's no kinetic war, the digital front is already active. China remains the most persistent cyber threat to the American government and private sector networks, the report says. Officials believe Beijing is methodically executing a long term plan to overtake the US in artificial intelligence by 2030. Russia meanwhile, continues to pose a more immediate military challenge through its war in Ukraine. Putin, the ODNI report notes, sees the war in Ukraine not just as another battlefield, but as a personal legacy project and a defining showdown with the West. While Western hopes have lingered around a possible change of leadership in Moscow, the report makes clear that is less likely now than at any point in Putin's 25 year reign. Then there's Iran and North Korea, each sharpening their tools in different but equally dangerous ways. The Iranian regime, according to National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, hasn't restarted formal nuclear weapons development, but frankly, that's very little comfort. Its uranium stockpile has now reached what Gabbard described as, quote, unprecedented levels for any non nuclear state. The report also flags increasing domestic momentum inside the Iranian regime to take the final leap and go nuclear. But at the top of it all, of course, is Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the only man in Iran with the authority to greenlight a bomb. Meanwhile, Tehran's regime scientists continue research into chemical and biological agents with potential military uses for Pyongyang strongman Kim Jong Un. Remember him? Little rocket man? Well, he's busy expanding his weapons programs and beefing up his arsenal, all with Russia's help. But perhaps the most chilling takeaway from the 30 page report is the deepening collaboration between America's foes. These regimes aren't just aligned in rhetoric. They're increasingly sharing resources, technology and strategy. Take China and Russia, for example. Beijing has quietly been keeping Moscow's defense sector alive by sending dual use goods and key components to help Russia skirt Western sanctions and recover from battlefield losses. Iran, in turn, has become Russia's go to drone supplier and is now receiving in return advanced military and cyber support. North Korea has gone even further, shipping munitions and sending combat troops to support Russia's war effort, all while gaining access to upgraded weapons systems and weapons technology. The Trump administration has acknowledged the shifting landscape. According to officials, these emerging alliances are already shaping the contours of the 2025 National Security Strategy and will play a central role in American defense planning. And that, my friends, is the PDB Afternoon bulletin for Wednesday 26th March. Now if you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me at pdb@the first tv.com and to listen to the show ad free. Well, it is very simple. 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.

[Mike Slater]

Hey, I'm Mike Slater. I have a podcast called Politics by Faith. We have a very simple mission. We take the news of the day and we filter it through a biblical worldview. So here's the big story of the day. What does the Bible say about it and how can we apply it? It's amazing. There's nothing new under the sun. The Bible has something to say about everything that's going on today. So basically, we thump the Bible over on Politics by Faith. I think we ought to keep MAGA going. And I think the way to take it beyond just a political victory into a true rebuilding and awakening and revival in America is to make sure that this is all grounded in biblical principles. And that's what we do on the podcast Politics by Faith. And you can subscribe to Politics by Faith wherever you're listening to the show right now.