PDB Afternoon Bulletin | May 13th, 2026: Iran’s Missile Network May Have Survived The War & California Mayor’s CCP Ties

Summary

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The President’s Daily Brief – Afternoon Bulletin | May 13th, 2026

Host: Mike Baker (Former CIA Operations Officer)
Length: ~15 minutes
Main Topics: Iran’s Missile Network Survives the War, California Mayor’s CCP Ties

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Episode Overview

In this episode, host Mike Baker tackles two critical stories shaping U.S. national security:

1. Iran’s Missile Network: Fresh intelligence reveals the Iranian military’s missile infrastructure along the Strait of Hormuz remains largely operational—contradicting public claims of devastating losses.
2. California Mayor’s CCP Ties: Federal prosecutors unseal a plea deal exposing a California mayor’s secret work on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), illuminating the depth and method of Beijing’s U.S. influence operations.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. New Assessments of Iran’s Missile Capabilities

[00:40 – 08:25]

• Intelligence vs. Public Statements:
  • Despite months of White House and military claims that Iran’s forces were “decimated or obliterated,” new U.S. intelligence (“reviewed by the New York Times”) shows Iran has preserved most of its missile infrastructure, especially around the Strait of Hormuz.
  • Quote:

    “Iran currently has operational access to 30 of the 33 missile sites that it maintains along the strategic waterway.”
    — Mike Baker [01:44]

• Functionality & Preparedness:
  • Not all sites are fully functional, but many are at least “partially operational” with mobile launchers and underground complexes once again online.
  • Iran has about 70% of its pre-war missile stockpile and mobile launchers, with around 90% of underground facilities “regained.”
• Pentagon’s Dilemma:
  • Many of Iran’s missile sites are deep underground, protected by mountains and bunkers.
  • Due to a shortage of bunker buster munitions, U.S. forces aimed to “seal entrances” rather than fully destroy every site—mixed results followed.
  • Quote:

    “There simply were not enough bunker buster munitions available to completely destroy every hardened Iranian site.”
    — Mike Baker [03:42]

• U.S. Munition Expenditure:
  • The U.S. used:
    • ~1,100 long range stealth cruise missiles

    • 1,000 Tomahawk missiles

    • 1,300 Patriot interceptor missiles

  • Replenishment Concerns: Rebuilding stockpiles may take years, with implications for U.S. readiness for possible conflicts with China or North Korea.
  • Strategic Trade-Off:

    “Pentagon planners were forced to weigh the immediate goal of inflicting maximum damage on Iran against the longer term need to preserve strategic weapon reserves…”
    — Mike Baker [04:49]

• Official Response:
  • The White House and Pentagon continue to frame “Operation Epic Fury” as a “historic military success” and reject these intelligence conclusions.
  • Key Distinction: While Iran suffered damage, public narratives have potentially exaggerated the extent of its losses.
  • Summary Statement:

    “If these intelligence assessments are accurate, Iran, well, Iran may have proven far more resilient than many expected.”
    — Mike Baker [07:33]

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2. California Mayor’s Secret Work for the CCP

[09:09 – 15:02]

• Revelations from a Federal Plea Deal:
  • A newly unsealed deal reveals California Mayor Eileen Wang admitted to working with Chinese government handlers on influence operations inside the U.S.
  • Prosecutors allege the operation spanned years, using the website U.S. News Center to push Chinese state propaganda—while Wang and her fiancé regularly reported their results to CCP officials.
  • Quote (Prosecutors):

    “This was allegedly an elected American official taking direction from Chinese government handlers while quietly rising through California politics.”
    — Mike Baker [09:24]

• Nature of CCP Taskings:
  • Examples from the plea agreement:
    • Wang was ordered to publish stories denying genocide and forced labor in Xinjiang—statements that appeared in mainstream media.
    • Direct Handler Order (read aloud):

      “There is no genocide in Xinjiang. There is no such thing as forced labor in any production activity including cotton production... accusations against Beijing were designed to, quote, defame China.”
      — Cited by Mike Baker [10:54]

    • In response to traffic analytics, Wang wrote:

      “Thank you leader.”
      — Mike Baker [11:35]

• Role within U.S. Politics:
  • Chinese officials viewed Wang as a “potentially valuable political asset,” encouraging her political rise to further Beijing’s influence.
  • Wang’s then-fiancé, Yao Ning Sun, allegedly acted as her political advisor and campaign manager during her successful city council run in Arcadia, CA (later becoming mayor). He was previously sentenced to four years in federal prison as a covert agent for China.
• Prosecutors’ Warning:
  • LA Federal Prosecutor’s Quote:

    “Wang is just the latest to act as an agent for the PRC and it should terrify Americans that she was able to rise to the highest levels of local office in her city.”
    — Quoted by Mike Baker [13:12]

• Aftermath and Ongoing Threat:
  • Wang attempted to distance herself from Sun after his indictment, yet has now pleaded guilty to being an unregistered foreign agent. She faces up to 10 years in federal prison.
  • Federal officials characterize the case as part of “a much broader national security threat”—evidence of Beijing’s persistent attempts to infiltrate and shape U.S. politics.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Contradictory Iran Claims:

  “The discrepancy here is in the extent of that damage. Senior commanders were killed, strategic infrastructure was hit... But if these intelligence assessments are accurate, Iran may have proven far more resilient than many expected.”
  — Mike Baker [07:20 – 07:33]

• On CCP Influence Operations:

  “Authorities say that level of coordination is what separates this case from simple political activism or ideological sympathy toward China.”
  — Mike Baker [10:42]

• On Broader National Security:

  “Federal prosecutors are indicating that this goes far beyond just one politician, instead presenting it as another example of Beijing's long term attempt at influence within U.S. politics.”
  — Mike Baker [14:37]

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Important Segment Timestamps

• Intro & Iran Missile Network: [00:40 – 08:25]
• Iran’s Bunker Sites Strategy: [03:35 – 04:30]
• U.S. Munition Usage & Risks: [04:30 – 06:03]
• Discrepancy in Damage Claims: [06:35 – 07:33]
• California Mayor’s CCP Ties Story Begins: [09:09]
• CCP Directive Examples: [10:40 – 11:35]
• Political Ambitions & Asset Framing: [12:15 – 13:12]
• Prosecutors on Broader Threat: [13:12 – 14:37]

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Summary & Tone

Mike Baker delivers a measured, factual recap, infused with national security expertise and an undercurrent of concern—especially regarding gaps between intelligence and public messaging, and the vulnerability of political systems to foreign manipulation. The tone is urgent yet objective, conveying both the complexity and the stakes of these issues.

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For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This briefing offers crucial insights into the real state of Iran’s military post-conflict and exposes a concrete case of Chinese influence in local U.S. government. It’s a must-listen for anyone concerned about U.S. security, foreign policy, and the integrity of American democracy.

Transcript

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[Mike Baker]

It's Wednesday the 13th of May. 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, new intelligence assessments reportedly show that air Iran's military may be far more intact than publicly advertised, with Tehran retaining access to most of its missile infrastructure along the Strait of Hormuz. Later in the show, according to federal prosecutors, a California mayor allegedly worked directly with Chinese government handlers as part of a broader CCP influence campaign inside the U.S. but first, today's afternoon spotlight new reporting from the New York Times is raising serious new questions about just how badly Iran's military was actually damaged during the recent U. S Israeli campaign. According to classified U.S. intelligence assessments reviewed by the paper, Iran has reportedly retained operational access to most of its missile infrastructure across the country, including the vast majority of its launch sites along the Strait of Hormuz. And that assessment appears to stand in sharp contrast to months of public statements from President Trump and senior Pentagon officials who repeatedly described Iran's military as quote, decimated or obliterated and effectively combat ineffective following Operation Epic Fury. Now, according to the New York Times, intelligence agencies are telling policymakers something far more complicated behind closed doors. The most alarming finding reportedly involves Iran's missile network surrounding the Strait of Hormuz. According to the assessments, Iran currently has operational access to 30 of the 33 missile sites that it maintains along the strategic waterway. Only three sites are reportedly considered completely inaccessible. Now that doesn't necessarily mean every site is fully functional, but intelligence officials reportedly believe many of the facilities are now at least partially operational, again allowing Iranian forces to move missiles, reposition launchers, and in some cases potentially launched directly from hardened underground complexes. The assessments also reportedly conclude that Iran still retains roughly 70% of its pre war missile stockpile, along with approximately 70% of its mobile launchers nationwide. And perhaps most significantly, intelligence agencies reportedly believe Iran has regained access to roughly 90% of its underground missile storage and launch facilities are across the country. Those underground facilities were among the most difficult targets during the war. Many were buried deep underneath mountains or reinforced bunker systems designed specifically to survive sustained air campaigns. And according to the report, the Pentagon faced a difficult operational reality during the conflict. There simply were not enough bunker buster munitions available to completely destroy every hardened Iranian site. Instead, military planners reportedly made a tactical decision in many cases to seal entrances and access points rather than attempt total destruction of the facilities. And that strategy appears to have produced mixed results. The report also sheds new light on the amount of weaponry the US Burned through during the conflict. According to the New York Times, American forces expended roughly 1100 long range stealth cruise missiles during the war, along with more than 1000 Tomahawk missiles and over 1300 Patriot interceptor missiles. Replenishing those stockpiles, of course, could reportedly take years, not months. And those same munitions are also central to American contingency planning for potential future conflicts with China or North Korea. The report notes that Pentagon planners were forced to weigh the immediate goal of inflicting maximum damage on Iran against the longer term need to preserve strategic weapon reserves for other possible theaters. Publicly, however, the White House is rejecting the intelligence characterization entirely. A White House spokeswoman dismissed suggestions that Iran had significantly retained military capability, while Pentagon officials accused critics and media outlets of downplaying what they continue to describe as a historic military success. Now, to be clear, the campaign did, without a doubt, inflict major damage on Iran. The discrepancy here is in the extent of that damage. Senior commanders were killed, strategic infrastructure was hit, air defenses were degraded, and Iran's economy continues to struggle under the pressure of war and ongoing sanctions. But if these intelligence assessments are accurate, Iran, well, Iran may have proven far more resilient than many expected. All right, coming up next, a California mayor admits to secretly working on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party. As federal prosecutors, Warren Bei Singh's influence operations may run far deeper inside American politics than many realize. I'll be right back. Hey, Mike Baker here. Now, I want to tell you about a man that you may have heard about, but certainly everyone should know about. His name is Jimmy Lai. L A I Jimmy Lai. Now, he's a 78 year old British citizen, his father, his grandfather, and he has spent over five years in solitary confinement in a Hong Kong maximum security prison. And the reason he's in prison is fairly simple. When the Chinese Communist Party cracked down on Hong Kong a decade ago, Jimmy refused to roll over. After escaping Communist China as a boy, Jimmy Lai became a successful entrepreneur. Inspired by the Tiananmen Square protesters, he launched Apple Daily as a newspaper dedicated to freedom. This, of course, well, that put him directly in the CCP's crosshairs. Jimmy joined the pro democracy protests, becoming a global symbol for the rule of law. Now earlier this year, Jimmy Lai was sentenced to an additional 20 years in prison. On top of those five years, at his age in failing health, that is effectively a life sentence. Now President Trump is calling for Jimmy's release. And to learn more, just visit supportjimmilai.com again, that's supportjimmielai.com or learn about his story and tell others. And if you care about democracy and the rule of law, well help free Jimmy Lottie before it's too late. Hey, Mike Baker here with an important message for gun owners about home safety, security and being prepared. Now, let me give you a scenario. It's 3am you wake up because you hear something downstairs. So what's your move? Well, when seconds count, you don't want to be fumbling with safe keys or hoping a battery in a safe or a lockbox still works. 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[Mike Baker]

Welcome back to the PDB Afternoon Bulletin. A federal plea deal unsealed this week is exposing what prosecutors describe as a years long Chinese influence operation operating inside American politics, with the California mayor admitting she secretly worked on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party. According to court documents, this was allegedly an elected American official taking direction from Chinese government handlers while quietly rising through California politics. And prosecutors say this operation wasn't happening in some dark espionage hideout overseas. It was allegedly unfolding through a website called U.S. news center, which presented itself as an outlet serving Chinese American audiences stateside from 2020 to 2022. According to the plea agreement, 58 year old Eileen Wang and her then fiance Yao Ning Son allegedly used the platform to carry out Beijing's directives pushing Chinese state propaganda into American discourse while reporting back to CCP officials with screenshots and analytics showing how many people viewed the material, authorities say that level of coordination is what separates this case from simple political activism or ideological sympathy toward China. According to court documents, authorities allege Wang and Sun were carrying out assigned propaganda taskings directly from Chinese government handlers. Some of those exchanges in the plea agreement are remarkably blunt. In one instance, prosecutors say Wang's Chinese handler allegedly ordered her to publish pre written material denying allegations of genocide and forced labor in Xinjiang, where China has faced years of international condemnation over its treatment of Uyghur Muslims and other ethnic minorities, according to court documents. Some of that material later appeared in Los Angeles Times, including one passage that read, quote, there is no genocide in Xinjiang. There is no such thing as forced labor in any production activity in including cotton production, the handler allegedly wrote, adding that accusations against Beijing were designed to, quote, defame China. In another exchange included in the plea agreement, prosecutors say Wang's Chinese supervisor praised the online traffic generated by one propaganda article, prompting Wang to allegedly reply, quote, thank you leader. And according to federal prosecutors, Beijing allegedly viewed Wang as more than just a useful online voice. Authorities say Chinese officials considered her a potentially valuable political asset inside California politics, someone who could continue rising through local government while quietly advancing Beijing's interests in the U.S. that's where Wang's ex partner enters the frame. More directly, prosecutors say sun wasn't just Wang's fiance at the time, he allegedly acted as her political advisor and campaign manager during her successful 2022 city council campaign in Arcadia. That's a city in Los Angeles County's San Gabriel Valley where she then became mayor. And federal officials are making it very clear that they view this as part of a much broader national security threat. Los Angeles's top federal prosecutor warned that, quote, Wang is just the latest to act as an agent for the PRC and it should terrify Americans that she was able to rise to the highest levels of local office in her city, end quote. Sun himself was sentenced earlier this year to four years in federal prison and after pleading guilty to acting as a covert agent for China. After his indictment in 2024, Wang attempted to distance herself from him, saying she was, quote, not responsible for the actions of others, while refusing calls to resign from the city council. But now Wang has admitted that she acted as an unregistered foreign agent for China. She entered her guilty plea during her arraignment on Monday. And Wang now faces up to 10 years in federal prison. Federal prosecutors are indicating that this goes far beyond just one politician, instead presenting it as another example of Beijing's long term attempt at influence within U.S. politics. And that, my friends, is the PDB Afternoon bulletin for Wednesday 13th May. Now if you have any questions or comments, please reach out to [e-mail] and to listen to the show ad free. Well, you could do that and it is very simple. 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