← The President's Daily Brief
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Afternoon Bulletin | May 14th, 2025: Revealed: The Surprising Intel That Led Trump To End The Houthi War & Macron Floats Deploying France's Nuclear Deterrent Across Europe
00:17:03
Loading summary
Transcript6 lines
- [00:00]
Charles Barkley
The NBA playoffs are here and I'm getting my best in on FanDuel. Talk to me, Chuck GPT. What do you know? All sorts of interesting stuff, even Charles Barkley's greatest fear. Hey, nobody needs to know that new customers bet $5 and get 200 in bonus bets if you win FanDuel America's number one sportsbook 21 plus in President select states must be first online real money wager $5 deposit required bonus issued is non withdrawable bonus bets that expires seven days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See full terms@fanduel.com sportsbook gambling problem. Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
- [00:42]
Mike Baker
It's Wednesday, the 14th 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, we'll revisit the recent ceasefire struck between the Trump administration and and Iranian backed Houthis and the critical intelligence that led the White House to cut the bombing campaign against the terror group short later in the show. Amid ongoing concerns about Russian aggression and whether the EU can rely on the US As a military deterrent, French President Emmanuel Macron has said he's open to deploying his country's nuclear weapons to other European countries. We'll have those details, but first, today's afternoon spotlight. It's been a little over a week since the Trump administration struck a breakthrough ceasefire agreement with the Iranian backed Houthi militants of Yemen. Now we're beginning to learn more about the intelligence that led the White House to opt for de escalation. As you'll recall, the abrupt announcement of the truce on May 6 caught many by surprise as it came just seven weeks into a relentless US bombing campaign that US Central Command had recommended should last at least eight months. According to four anonymous US officials that spoke exclusively to Reuters, the administration was prepared to maintain their military pressure on the group over the long term despite the hefty price tag of the strikes, but saw a diplomatic opening worth pursuing when they picked up intelligence that the beleaguered Yemeni militants were seeking an off ramp to the conflict. By that time, the US bombing campaign, which began on 15 March, had struck more than 1,100 Houthi targets, killing a significant number of mid tier Houthi fighters who trained lower level forces and significantly degrading their command facilities, air defense systems, weapons manufacturing and storage facilities. Under increasing pressure, the sources said that the Houthi leaders began reaching out around the first weekend in May to US Allies in the Middle east to essentially wave the white flag. One source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters, quote, we started getting intel that the Houthis had had enough. They added that the Iranian regime, which is engaged in delicate discussions with the US over its nuclear program, also played a critical role in encouraging Houthi leadership to come to the negotiating table. The Trump administration moved quickly to seize the moment, hoping to secure a deal that would allow the President to declare victory ahead of his Middle east tour that's taking place this week. On Monday, the 5th of May, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth organized a series of meetings at the White House to discuss the viability of a ceasefire, where officials agreed that there was a limited window of opportunity to find an off ramp. Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, who was already engaged in talks with the Iranian regiment, immediately reached out to mediators in Oman, who brokered indirect talks with the chief Houthi negotiator and spokesperson. He in turn contacted the Houthis top leader, Abdul Malik Al Houthi, and by Monday afternoon, a framework agreement had been reached. Trump decided to take an unconventional approach to finalize the deal, notably bypassing Israel, which is not covered by the arrangement. The following day, President Trump made his announcement of the ceasefire and declaring that the Houthis had capitulated. In an Oval Office press conference, Trump said, quote, they said, please don't bomb us anymore and we're not going to attack your ships, and I will accept their word, end quote. The group consented to stop attacks on U.S. vessels in the Red Sea and the Bab Al Mandab Strait and to end their disruption of one of the world's most vital shipping lanes. The Omani foreign minister later confirmed the ceasefire, so saying it would ensure, quote, freedom of navigation and the smooth flow of commercial shipping. It was an abrupt U turn by the Houthis, who had previously maintained a defiant posture. According to the Reuters report, the turning point came after a April 17 strike on a Houthi controlled fuel terminal on the coast of the Red sea that killed 74 people, severely damaging the Iranian backed group's ability to conduct operations and generate revenue. By that point, the U.S. officials said each side saw a benefit to the deal, with the Houthis seeing an opportunity to relieve pressure. They could have permanently ended their operations if the campaign continued for months or even years. But Washington's allies in the Middle east also wanted the air campaign to stop, fearing regional blowback. One source told Reuters, quote, if the Houthis were under more pressure, well, their response was going to be to fire on the Saudis or the Emiratis, end quote. The US Was also feeling the pressure as the bombing campaign, which had so far cost well over $1 billion, had severely depleted critical munitions and already led to the loss of two $60 million aircraft, including one that fell off the deck of the Harry Truman aircraft carrier while it was under Houthi attack. Since Trump took office, the Houthis had also managed to shoot down seven USMQ9 Reaper drones, each costing approximately $30 million. For now, the ceasefire is holding, but questions do remain about how long the Houthis will adhere to the terms, particularly due to the group's persistent attacks on Israel, which have prompted escalating retaliations. One official warned Reuters, quote, proxies of Iran don't distinguish between what is Israel and what is the US So at some point, I think the Houthis will see themselves as trying to hold the US Accountable. All right, coming up next, French President Emmanuel Macron says he is open to deploying France's nuclear weapons to other European countries. I'll be right back. Hey, Mike Baker here. Now, this July, perhaps you've heard about this, but this July, there's going to be a global summit of BRICS nations held in Rio de Janeiro. That sounds like a posh place to hold a BRICS nation summit. The block of emerging superpowers which includes China and Russia, India and Iran, they're meeting with the goal of displacing the US Dollar as the global currency and they're calling it the real reset. Now, as BRICS nations push forward with their plans, demand for US Dollars, well, could decrease, bringing down the value of the dollar. And while this transition won't happen overnight, of course, the real reset marks a pivotal moment when BRICS objectives move from possibility to toward reality. So you ask yourself, how can you protect your hard earned dollar savings? Well, I'll tell you one thing that you can do is check in with the professionals at Birch Gold. Birch Gold Group can help you move your hard earned savings into a tax sheltered IRA in precious metals. Claim your free information kit on gold by texting PDB to 989-898 with an A plus rating. With a Better Business Bureau and tens of thousands of happy customers, let Birch Gold arm you with a free information kit on owning gold before July and that Rio reset. Just text PDB to 989898. Today, Mike Baker here. I want to take just a little bit of your time to talk about eating smart, right, about eating healthy. That's all very important. And a big part of that effort, well, it's knowing where your food comes from, how it was raised, and how it was handled. After all, if you don't take control of your food supply, I guarantee you somebody will. And it will probably be some large faceless corporation. Now, if you're a fan of beef like I am, well, then I've got a place for you to turn to to find the best quality beef. And of course, I'm talking about Tritails beef. Tritails is a fifth generation Texas ranch. It's run by real ranchers. There's no corporate nonsense, no middlemen, no mystery, just pasture, raised grain, finished Black Angus beef that delivers tenderness, rich marbling and great taste in every cut. This grilling season, stock up before it's too late. And right now, when you order over $349, you get a free choice. New York Strip. Just go to tribe.com PDB Grill. That's tribe.com PDB Grill. Your family, your friends and your grill will thank you.
- [08:57]
Mike Slater
My name is Mike Slater. I have a podcast called Politics by Faith. I was just talking to a friend of mine who said he hasn't been able to follow the news lately. It's been too much, it's too crazy. It's driving him crazy and he's just checked out. If you feel that way sometimes, too, I think you'll really like our podcast, Politics by Faith. We take the main story of the day and we run it through the Bible. What does the Bible say about this? It's amazing, but it's all there. And then God tells us what to do. We don't even have to figure it out. The answers are right there. He gives us the answers. Politics by Faith. Please join us over there. You can listen to it wherever you're listening to this podcast right now. Politics by Faith.
- [09:37]
Mike Baker
Welcome back to the afternoon bulletin. Amid mounting fears of Russian aggression and uncertainty surrounding future US Nuclear guarantees, French President Macron said he is open to stationing his country's nuclear weapons on allied soil across Europe. In a televised interview Tuesday evening with a French broadcaster, Macron declared he was ready to, quote, open the discussion on deploying elements of France's nuclear deterrent abroad, provided it adheres to stringent conditions. The French leader pointed to the long standing U. S. Practice of hosting nuclear assets in Europe, noting, quote, the Americans have the nuclear bombs on planes in Belgium, Germany, Italy and Turkey. France, which holds the European Union's only independent nuclear arsenal, maintains approximately 280 warheads. Its arsenal is engineered for full operational autonomy and capable of launching from submarines and aircraft without foreign oversight. Macron was adamant that any forward deployment of new French nuclear assets would not compromise national sovereignty or command authority. He stressed, quote, we would not be paying for the security of others, adding that ultimate command over nuclear use would, quote, always rest with the President of the Republic as the head of the armed forces, end quote. Macron's remarks follow earlier proposals floated in March to engage European allies in a broader conversation about integrating France's nuclear umbrella into continental defense. A revival of the long discussed but never realized vision of a European nuclear deterrent. France's full spectrum independence has made it a more attractive and potentially more reliable nuclear guarantor in the eyes of some European capitals, particularly as questions grow over Washington's long term commitment to NATO. This Berlin. Last week, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz publicly expressed openness to hosting French nuclear weapons on German soil. While taking pains to emphasize that the offer was not meant to supplant the existing American deterrent. Mertz said at a joint press conference with Macron, quote, this would be expressly not a substitute for the nuclear guarantee currently being given to Europe by the United States of America. The US is currently believed to station roughly 20 nuclear warheads at a German military base. Elsewhere in Europe, interest appears to be growing. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said in March that Warsaw was, quote, talking seriously with Paris about integrating under France's nuclear shield. Denmark and Lithuania have also signaled openness to the idea, with officials in both countries framing the proposal as a necessary hedge against Russian unpredictability. Still, Macron appeared eager to strike a balance between deterrence and escalation. He said during the interview, quote, we must help Ukraine defend itself, adding, quote, but we do not want to unleash a third world war. Well, that seems like a good idea. Macron reiterated that Kiev must enter any ceasefire talks from a position of strength. As expected, the Kremlin wasted no time condemning Macron's proposal. Dmitry Peskov, Putin's chief purveyor of official state nonsense, called the proposal, quote, a threat to security, predictability and, and stability in Europe. That's coming from the Russians warning that any further proliferation of nuclear weapons on the continent would be seen in Moscow as a hostile act. You know what was a hostile act? Yeah, that would be the taking of Crimea and the invading of Ukraine. The French president's comments come against the backdrop of a broader deterioration in east west relations, with tensions at their highest levels since the Cold War. Russia's Deputy Security Council Chairman, Dmitry Medvedev has issued nuclear threats on a dozen occasions over the past year to the west and Ukraine. But frankly, Medvedev never met a nuclear saber that he wasn't willing to rattle. As Europe grapples with its ongoing security reality, Macron's latest remarks signal that France may be ready to assume a central role in the continent's future defense. And that, my friends, is the PDB afternoon bulletin for Wednesday 14th May. Now, if you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me at pdb@the first tv.com and 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.
- [14:13]
Mike Slater
Foreign.
- [14:17]
Mike Baker
Hey, Mike Baker here. Let's talk about your security, right? And specifically, let's talk about your online security. I want you to check out this excellent business. It's called Delete Me. Now, Delete Me makes it easy, quick and safe to remove your personal data online at a time when surveillance and data breaches are common enough to make everyone feel vulnerable. Look, it's easier than ever to find personal information about people online. You know that having your address, your phone number, your family members names hanging out on the Internet, well, it can actually have bad consequences, of course, in the real world. So why take the chance? With Delete Me, you can protect your personal privacy or the privacy of your business from doxing attacks before sensitive information can be exploited. Take control of your data and keep your private life private by signing up for Delete Me now at a special discount for our PDB listeners. Today you can get 20% off. That's 20% off your Delete Me plan simply by texting PDB to the number 6400. Again, get 20% off by texting PDB to 64000. Message and data rates may apply.