PDB Afternoon Bulletin | May 28th, 2025: Kremlin Sends WWIII Warning To Trump & Americans Told to Flee Venezuela

Summary

The President's Daily Brief: Afternoon Bulletin Summary | May 28th, 2025

Hosted by Mike Baker

In the May 28th, 2025 episode of The President's Daily Brief hosted by former CIA Operations Officer Mike Baker, listeners are presented with a comprehensive overview of two critical international developments: escalating tensions between Russia and the United States, and a dire advisory concerning American citizens in Venezuela. The episode delves into geopolitical maneuvers, diplomatic exchanges, and urgent safety warnings, providing listeners with essential insights into pressing global issues.

---

1. Kremlin's Dire Warning: World War III Invoked

Timestamp: [00:42]

The bulletin opens with alarming developments stemming from Moscow. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has publicly invoked the specter of World War III in a direct warning to then-President Donald Trump, heightening tensions in an already volatile geopolitical landscape.

• Trump's Provocative Statement:

  President Trump had previously remarked, "What Vladimir Putin doesn't realize is that if it weren't for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia. And I mean, and then ALL CAPS, really bad. You know, it's really bad when you put it all in capitals. Trump added, 'He's playing with fire.'" ([00:42])

• Medvedev's Response:

  Medvedev swiftly countered on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), stating, "I only know of one really bad ALSO in capitals thing, World War Three. I hope Trump understands this." ([02:15]). Baker characterizes Medvedev's rhetoric as typical of a "braggadocious schoolyard bully, but with nukes," suggesting that Medvedev's threats align closely with President Putin's strategic posture.

• Retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg's Critique:

  In response, Trump's special envoy to Ukraine, retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, labeled Medvedev's statement as "reckless" and accused the Kremlin of "stoking fears of global war" ([04:10]). Kellogg emphasized that such comments are "unfitting of a world power," underscoring the gravity of the exchange.

2. Russian Conditions for Ending the Ukraine Conflict

Timestamp: [05:00]

Amidst the heated exchange, Baker provides an update on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, outlining Russia's stipulated conditions for a ceasefire:

• No NATO Expansion:

  Russian President Vladimir Putin demands a formal pledge from Western nations to halt NATO expansion eastward, specifically excluding Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova from future membership considerations.

• Ukraine's Neutrality:

  A cornerstone of Russia's proposal is that Ukraine must remain a neutral state, devoid of alliances that could threaten Russia's sphere of influence.

• Economic Sanctions and Asset Freezes:

  Putin seeks the lifting of certain economic sanctions imposed on Russia and the resolution of issues concerning frozen Russian assets abroad.

• Protection of Russian-Speaking Populations:

  Ensuring the safety and rights of Russian-speaking communities within Ukraine is another critical demand.

Baker cites a Russian source to Reuters who stated, "Putin is ready to make peace, but not at any price," indicating a strategic patience that could be interpreted as Russia waiting to gauge the war's progression before committing to peace talks ([06:30]).

3. Ukrainian President Zelensky Proposes Trilateral Summit

Timestamp: [06:45]

In a bold diplomatic move, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed a trilateral summit involving himself, President Trump, and President Putin to negotiate the terms directly. Zelensky emphasized readiness for a "Trump, Putin, and me format" and suggested potential venues for the meeting, including Istanbul, Switzerland, or the Vatican ([07:20]). As of the episode's release, neither the Trump administration nor the Kremlin has publicly responded to this invitation, leaving the proposal in a state of anticipation.

---

4. Urgent Advisory: Americans Urged to Flee Venezuela

Timestamp: [09:16]

Shifting focus to the Western Hemisphere, the State Department has issued a stark warning concerning American citizens in Venezuela, highlighting the nation's descent into lawlessness under President Nicolás Maduro.

• Level 4 Do Not Travel Alert:

  Venezuela has been designated a Level 4 Do Not Travel destination—the highest advisory level—emphasizing an absence of any safe travel routes for Americans. The State Department advises all U.S. citizens to evacuate immediately ([09:40]).

• Risks of Detention and Torture:

  The bulletin underscores severe risks, including wrongful detention, kidnapping, and torture. U.S. nationals face an "extreme risk of detention upon entry" and could be wrongfully accused of terrorism or espionage, even in cases of accidental border crossings ([10:15]).

• Lack of Diplomatic Support:

  Since the suspension of embassy operations in Caracas in 2019, Americans in Venezuela lack consular support. Venezuelan authorities frequently withhold arrest notifications, leaving detainees without legal counsel or family contact ([11:00]).

• High-Profile Detentions:

  Recent incidents include the arrest of two Americans in January, labeled as "mercenaries" ahead of Maduro's disputed inauguration, and claims in September of a foiled assassination plot involving three Americans—claims Washington has dismissed as fabricated ([11:45]).

• U.S. Government Actions:

  In response to the deteriorating situation, the Trump administration has intensified pressure on Maduro's regime. This includes the Supreme Court's clearance to revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for over 300,000 Venezuelans in the U.S., and behind-the-scenes discussions to designate Maduro's regime as a transnational criminal organization ([12:30]). Such a designation could enable sweeping wartime authorities and facilitate mass deportations with limited judicial oversight.

---

Conclusion

Mike Baker concludes the bulletin by reiterating the gravity of the international issues discussed, urging listeners to stay informed and vigilant. The episode underscores the precarious nature of global politics, highlighting the escalating tensions between superpowers and the severe risks facing American citizens abroad.

For further inquiries or to engage with the content, listeners are encouraged to contact Baker via email and consider subscribing to the President's Daily Brief for uninterrupted access to critical global updates.

---

Stay informed, stay safe, and stay cool.

Transcript

[Ryan Reynolds]

Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile. I don't know if you knew this, but anyone can get the same Premium Wireless for $15 a month plan that I've been enjoying. It's not just for celebrities. So do like I did and have one of your assistant's assistants switch you to Mint Mobile today. I'm told it's super easy to [e-mail].

[Advertiser]

Switch upfront payment of $45 for 3 month plan equivalent to $15 per month Required intro rate first 3 months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra. See full terms at Mintmobile do.

[Mike Baker]

It's Wednesday, the 28th of May. Welcome to the PDB Afternoon Bulletin. I'm Mike Baker, your eyes and ears on the world stage. Let's get briefed. We'll start today with a chilling new message from Moscow. Russia's former president just invoked World War Three in a direct warning to President Trump, raising, of course, the stakes in an already volatile standoff. Later in the show, the US Is warning Americans don't travel to Venezuela, citing risks of torture, kidnapping and wrongful detention. The State Department says all US Citizens should leave immediately. But first, today's afternoon spotlight. Well, Russia's number one saber rattler is at it again. Former President Dmitry Medvedev is, is now invoking the specter of World War 3. Medvedev was responding to a recent comment by President Trump who said on Tuesday, quote, what Vladimir Putin doesn't realize is that if it weren't for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia. And I mean, and then all capitals, really bad. You know, it's really bad when you put it all in capitals. Trump added, he's playing with fire, end quote. Well, within hours, Medvedev responded on social media platform X, formerly Twitter. He wrote, quote, I only know of one really bad also in capitals thing, World War Three. I hope Trump understands this. End quote. Oh, well, this is diplomacy at its finest. To be fair, Medvedev's signature move is really to regularly imply the use of Russia's nuclear arsenal isn't off the table. He's, he's like the braggadocious schoolyard bully, but with nukes. And you have to assume that given Medvedev is essentially Putin's puppet, nothing he says or writes is really at odds with Putin's own mindset. Now, retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, Trump's special envoy to Ukraine, wasted no time firing back. He called the statement, quote, reckless and accused the Kremlin of, quote, stoking fears of global war. Kellogg added that the comment was unfitting of a world power. So while the war of words escalates, we are learning some of the details of Vladimir Putin's conditions for ending the war in Ukraine. According to three Russian sources who spoke to Reuters, Putin is looking for a written pledge from the west not to expand NATO further east, particularly into Ukraine, Georgia or Moldova. In other words, he wants the alliance to rule out membership for any former Soviet republic. In addition to NATO restrictions, Russia reportedly wants a guarantee that Ukraine will remain neutral. He's also asking for some sanctions to be lifted and for the issue of frozen Russian assets to be resolved. Finally, he's asking for protection of Russian speaking populations inside Ukraine. Now, one of the Russian sources told Reuters, quote, putin is ready to make peace, but not at any price, end quote. After speaking to Trump for more than two hours last week, Putin said that he had agreed to work on a memorandum that would establish the contours of a peace accord, including the timing of a ceasefire. So far, that draft memorandum has not yet been delivered and no date has been set. Now, one could argue, if one were cynical, that Putin is simply playing the waiting game here, dangling the possibility of peace talks at some point while he waits to see how the current battlefield realities play out and while he prepares for further offensives in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Zelensky is throwing his own proposal on the table. In a press conference today, Zelensky proposed a trilateral summit between himself, Putin and Trump to hash out terms directly. Zelensky said, quote, we are ready for the Trump, Putin and me format. We are ready for Trump, Putin, Trump, Zelensky, and then the three of us. As for where such a meeting might take place, Zelensky mentioned three possible venues that have been previously suggested. Istanbul, Switzerland or the Vatican. So far, neither Trump nor the Kremlin has publicly responded to that invitation. All right, coming up next, the State Department issues a stark new warning. Americans in Venezuela are at risk of torture and kidnapping and they need to get out now. I'll be right back. Hey, Mike Baker here. Now, this July, perhaps you've heard about this, but there's going to be a big global summit of BRICS nations and it'll be held in Rio de Janeiro. Now, the block of emerging superpowers, it includes Russia and China and India and Iran. They're meeting with the goal of displacing the US Dollar as the global currency. And they're calling this effort the Rio Reset, I guess, because that's a catchy name. As the BRICS nations push forward with their plans Demand for US Dollars, of course, could decrease and that would then bring down the value of the dollar. And while the transition won't happen overnight, the Rio reset does mark a pivotal moment when BRICS objectives move from possibility toward reality. So you should ask yourself, what can you do to help protect your hard earned dollar savings? Well, might I suggest you check in with the professionals at Birch Gold Group. Now Birch Gold can help you move your hard earned dollar savings into a tax sheltered IRA and precious metals to claim your free information kit on Gold. Just it's simple. Just text PDB to 989898. That's PDB to 989898 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. In that Rio reset Again, just text PDB to the number 989898 today. Mike Baker here. Look, I want to take just a few seconds of your time to talk about online security and to tell you about a business that's working hard to protect your online security. Now Delete Me makes it easy, quick and safe to remove your personal data online at a time when surveillance and data breaches are, well, common enough to make everyone vulnerable. Look, it's easier than ever to find personal information about people online. You know this. Having your address, phone number and family members names just hanging out on the Internet, well it can have actual consequences in the real world and it can make everyone feel and be vulnerable. 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 DeleteMe now, you can get a special discount for our listeners at the PDB today. Get 20% off your delete me plan simply by texting PDB to the number 64000. Again. The only way to get the 20 off. It's easy. Just text PDB to the number 64000. Message and data rates may apply.

[Advertiser]

Hey, Mike Baker here. Let's talk about trees, shall we? And plants. Oh, and don't forget shrubs. Now did you know that Fast Growing Trees is the biggest online nursery in the U.S. it's true. With thousands of different plants and over.

[Mike Baker]

Get this.

[Advertiser]

Two million happy customers. They have all the plants your yard needs, like fruit trees, privacy trees, flowering trees, shrubs, and so much more. Whatever plants you're interested in, Fast Growing Trees has you covered to get your dream yard delivered directly to your door.

Now.

It's an excellent business and this spring they have the best deals, up to half off on select plans. And now listeners to our show get 15% off their first purchase when using code PDB at checkout. That's an additional 15% off at fast growing trees.com using the code PDB at checkout. Fast growing trees.com code PDB and don't forget, with springtime in full swing, now's the perfect time to plant.

[Mike Baker]

Use PDB to save today.

[Advertiser]

Offer is valid for a limited time. Terms and conditions may apply.

Running a business comes with a lot of what ifs, but luckily there's a simple answer to them. Shopify it's the commerce platform behind millions of businesses including Thrive Cosmetics and Momofuku, and it'll help you with everything you need, from website design and marketing to boosting sales and expanding operations. Shopify can get the job done and make your dream a reality. Turn those what ifs into Sign up for your $1 per month [e-mail] SpecialOffer.

[Mike Baker]

Welcome back to the Afternoon Bulletin. The State Department is warning that Venezuela's descent into lawlessness under socialist dictator Nicolas Maduro has made it one of the most dangerous countries for U. S Nationals, with more Americans wrongfully detained there than in any other country. In a renewed and sharply worded advisory Tuesday, the department urged Americans already in the country to leave immediately and warned those considering travel to prepare a will. But who exactly at this point is considering travel to Venezuela? The country has been assigned a Level 4 Do Not Travel designation that is the highest possible, with the alert stating bluntly, quote, there is no safe way for Americans to travel to Venezuela. Every American is at risk of being detained by Maduro's regime. The advisory cited severe risks of wrongful detention, kidnapping and even torture in custody. US Citizens are considered at, quote, extreme risk of detention upon entry into Venezuela and could be unjustly accused of terrorism or espionage, even if crossing into the country inadvertently. In several cases, individuals have been seized after accidentally crossing poorly marked borders from neighboring countries, and the threat extends well beyond tourists. Dual nationals, travelers with prior Venezuelan visas, and even those with family ties in the country are not exempt. According to the advisory, legal connections to Venezuela offer no protection. Compounding the danger is the total absence of U S Diplomatic presence in Venezuela. Since the suspending of embassy operations in Caracas back in 2019, the US has been unable to provide consular support of any kind of Venezuelan authorities routinely withhold arrest notifications, meaning that Americans can vanish into the country's legal system, such as it is, without access to legal counsel, contact with their families or even confirmation of their whereabouts. This latest advisory follows a series of high profile detentions. In January, two Americans were arrested and branded as, quote, mercenaries by Maduro's regime ahead of his disputed inauguration. And when I say disputed, I. Well, I mean stolen. Then in September, Caracas claimed to have foiled a U S backed assassination plot and arrested three additional Americans, a claim that Washington swiftly dismissed as entirely fabricated. U S Embassies in neighboring Colombia, Brazil and other countries echoed the warning on Tuesday with coordinated security alerts underscoring the widespread concern among American diplomats in the region. While diplomatic efforts have secured the release of some detainees, including six Americans freed earlier this year following talks between Maduro and US Special envoy Richard Grinnell, others remain imprisoned under opaque and harsh conditions. As we reported on last week's pdb, a US Air Force veteran was released this month following lengthy negotiations. The renewed advisory comes as the Trump administration intensifies pressure on Maduro's regime. Last week, the Supreme Court cleared the way for the administration to revoke temporary protected status from more than 300,000 Venezuelans residing in the US as part of a broader push to crack down on illegal immigration. Behind closed doors, administration officials are reportedly exploring ways to formally designate Maduro's regime as a transnational criminal organization. Now that's a step that could unlock sweeping wartime authorities and potentially pave a way for more mass deportations with limited judicial oversight. And that, my friends, is the PDB Afternoon bulletin for Wednesday 28 May. 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. Well, you know, it could be quite 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.