PDB Afternoon Bulletin | September 10th, 2025: Internet Censorship Turns Deadly in Nepal & Ukraine’s Missile Find

Summary

The President's Daily Brief – Afternoon Bulletin

Episode: September 10, 2025: Internet Censorship Turns Deadly in Nepal & Ukraine’s Missile Find
Host: Mike Baker (Former CIA Operations Officer)
Date: September 10, 2025
Podcast: The First TV

---

Overview

This episode of The President's Daily Brief dives into two critical international developments: the eruption of deadly protests in Nepal following an internet crackdown, and a revealing discovery about Russian missile components found in Ukraine, spotlighting the persistent challenges of enforcing technology sanctions on Russia. Host Mike Baker unpacks the global implications and what these stories suggest for U.S. interests and international stability.

---

Key Discussion Points

1. Deadly Internet Censorship and Gen Z Revolt in Nepal

[00:38 – 06:40]

• Background on Nepal’s Rare International Spotlight:

  • Nepal, a small, mountainous country bordered by India and Chinese Tibet, rarely grabs global headlines.
  • Recent days brought “absolute chaos,” as the country faced a Gen Z–led uprising, described as “some of the most disturbing scenes of violence that we’ve seen in a long while.” (Mike Baker, 01:52)

• The Spark: Sudden Social Media Ban

  • Nepal’s government abruptly banned 26 major social media platforms—Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), and more.
  • Official justification: combating fake accounts, misinformation, and hate speech.
  • For Nepalese youth (Gen Z, early 20s), it was a “direct attack on their voice, their identity, and their only real connection to the outside world.” (02:29)

• Escalation and Tragic Violence

  • Demonstrations began peacefully, then intensified:
    • Police and military responded with water cannons, tear gas, rubber bullets, and eventually live ammunition.
    • Protestors torched government buildings, including the parliament and Supreme Court, and attacked homes of political leaders.
    • “Tragically, the violence wasn’t limited to symbols of the state. The home of the former prime minister was set ablaze by a mob. His wife was trapped inside and died. One of the defining images of the uprising: a trio of young Nepalese boys taking a selfie in front of the burning parliament building.” (04:10)
  • Impact: At least 19 dead, hundreds wounded, lockdowns and curfews in Kathmandu, airport seized by army.

• Political Fallout

  • Nepal’s Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Ali and the Home Minister both resigned.
  • The government lifted the social media ban in a desperate move to restore order, but violence and unrest continued.

• Root Causes and Geopolitical Implications

  • The social media ban was “the spark, but the fuel goes much deeper – frustration with corruption, nepotism, and political dysfunction.” Nepal’s suffered 13 governments in 15 years; young people face economic hopelessness.
  • Nepal’s location—wedged between India and China—means instability is a flashpoint in superpower rivalry:
    • For India: risks of unrest crossing their “long open border.”
    • For China: threatens Belt and Road investments.
    • For the U.S.: South Asian instability impacts both allies and adversaries.

• Quote Highlight:

  • “This uprising is a generational statement, a cry essentially of anger and despair.” (Mike Baker, 05:27)

---

2. Revealing Sanctions Loopholes: Russia’s Missile Parts in Ukraine

[08:58 – 13:45]

• Discovery in Kyiv:

  • After a Russian Iskander missile hit Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers building but failed to fully detonate, Ukrainian investigators examined the warhead.
  • “Inside, officials found more than 30 foreign-made components. We’re talking about parts sourced from the U.S., the United Kingdom, Japan, and Switzerland.” (Mike Baker, 09:18)
  • Companies named include Texas Instruments, Analog Devices, Fujitsu, and others.

• Significance for Sanctions

  • Western sanctions aimed to cut off Russia’s access to advanced technology, specifically for its military-industrial complex.
  • Despite this, “three and a half years into Putin’s war, a ballistic missile aimed at Ukraine’s government buildings is still being powered in part by Western microelectronics.” (Mike Baker, 09:45)

• Shifts in Missile Composition

  • A similar missile from earlier inspections contained 35 U.S. components; in the latest, fewer Western parts but increases in Russian (57) and Belarusian (5) components.
  • This shift demonstrates Moscow’s adaptation—manufacturing and sourcing more domestically and from close allies, as well as relying on smuggling.
  • “It shows Moscow is adapting, building more at home, sourcing more from its closest ally, and leaning heavily on smuggling networks to fill the gaps.” (Mike Baker, 10:27)

• Limits of Sanctions and Dual-Use Technology

  • Enforcement is “incredibly difficult” because microchips and sensors are dual-use—used in both consumer goods and weapons.
  • Western companies are not selling directly to Russia; parts arrive via “middlemen in third countries—China, Central Asia, and the Middle East—where Western enforcement power is very limited.”
  • Russia’s weapons still rely on imported tech: “The Kremlin has boasted of resilience under sanctions, but the reality is that Putin’s most advanced weapons still rely on imported parts.” (Mike Baker, 11:08)

• Strategic Messaging and Global Supply Chain Warfare

  • Ukraine publicizes these findings to pressure Western governments and companies—“close the loopholes, crack down on the networks, and treat these components as strategically vital.”
  • “In earlier wars, controlling oil, steel or rubber could decide the outcome. In today’s wars, it’s the microchips.” (Mike Baker, 12:00)
  • The war extends “into global supply chains, in customs offices, and in the quiet back rooms of trading companies that decide where tiny dime-sized pieces of silicon end up.” (Mike Baker, 13:20)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Nepal’s Crisis:

  • “For Nepal’s young people, especially Gen Z... it felt like a direct attack on their voice, their identity, and their only real connection to the outside world.” (Mike Baker, 02:29)
  • “This uprising is a generational statement, a cry essentially of anger and despair.” (Mike Baker, 05:27)

• On Sanctions and Globalization:

  • “Microchips and sensors are essentially dual-use technology. The same kind of circuitry that goes into a consumer laptop or a washing machine can also help guide a ballistic missile. And that makes enforcement incredibly difficult.” (Mike Baker, 10:57)
  • “The war in Ukraine isn’t just being fought on the battlefield. It’s being fought in global supply chains, in customs offices, and in the quiet back rooms of trading companies.” (Mike Baker, 13:20)

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------------------------|-----------| | Nepal’s Internet Shutdown and Deadly Protests | 00:38–06:40| | Nepal’s Geopolitical Stakes | 05:30–06:40| | (Ad Breaks Omitted) | 06:40–08:58| | Russian Missile Components Found in Ukraine | 08:58–13:45| | Sanctions Loopholes and Geopolitical Lessons | 10:27–13:45|

---

In Summary

Mike Baker’s analysis in this episode highlights the unpredictable and dangerous outcomes of government censorship in a fragile democracy (Nepal), and the persistent global struggle to enforce sanctions regimes effectively (Ukraine/Russia). Both stories serve as cautionary tales about the unintended consequences of official actions and the complexity of geopolitics in an interconnected world.

---

For feedback or questions, listeners are encouraged to contact Mike at [e-mail]. To listen ad-free, visit PDBpremium.com.

Transcript

[A]

Looking to diversify and protect your hard earned assets. Well, schedule a free consultation with the Birch Gold Group. They're the precious metals specialists. Just text PDB to the number 989898 and you'll receive a free no obligation information kit. And you'll learn how to convert an existing IRA or a 401k into a gold IRA. Again, text PDB to 989898. Foreign 10 September 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, as we struggle with the issue of Internet censorship here in the West, a country in Asia, Nepal, is offering us a glimpse into where that road can lead. And that would be straight into violence and political revolt. I'll have those details later in the show. Ukraine uncovers over 30 foreign made parts inside a Russian missile. What that discovery tells us about the gaps and loopholes in sanctions. But first, today's afternoon spotlight. We're going to start today in a place that we rarely talk about here on the pdb, and that's Nepal. And of course, Nepal is the small mountainous country nestled between India and Chinese Tibet. Normally, Nepal doesn't really make headlines much outside of its own borders. But this week, the the country is in absolute chaos, wracked by a Gen Z led revolt that's producing some of the most disturbing scenes of violence that we've seen in a long while. First, a little background on what's happening there. The spark came, well, just days ago when Nepal's government abruptly banned 26 major social media platforms. Everything from Facebook and Instagram to WhatsApp, YouTube and X. Officials claimed the ban was about fighting fake accounts and misinformation and hate speech. But for Nepal's young people, especially Gen Z, and those are, those are kids, obviously roughly in their early 20s. It felt like a direct attack on their voice, their identity, and their only real connection to the outside world. So they took to the streets. At first it was demonstrations and marches in Kathmandu and other cities in Nepal. But very quickly, the protests escalated. Security forces responded with water cannons, tear gas, rubber bullets, and eventually live ammunition. The protests then turned destructive. Crowds torched government buildings, the parliament, even the Supreme Court. The prime minister's residence, the president's residence and multiple party offices all came under attack. And tragically, the violence wasn't limited to symbols of the state. The home of the former prime minister was set ablaze by a mob. His wife was trapped inside and died. One of the defining images of the uprising. It's a picture of a trio of young Nepalese boys taking a selfie in front of the burning parliament building. By the time the smoke cleared, at least 19 people were dead and hundreds more wounded. Flights in and out of Kathmandu were shut down. The army took control of the capital's airport. Curfews were imposed. Nepal's Prime Minister, K.P. sharma Ali, resigned along with the country's home minister. In the end, the government lifted the social media ban in a desperate attempt to calm things down. But the protests were haven't stopped. So why does this matter? Well, first, the revolt isn't just about social media. That was the spark, but the fuel goes much deeper. Frustration with corruption, nepotism, and political dysfunction. Nepal has had 13 different governments in just 15 years. Its economy is fragile, jobs are scarce, and young people, the same ones leading these protests, see little future in the system as it is. This uprising is a generational statement, a cry essentially of anger and despair. Second, Nepal sits in one of the most strategically sensitive spots on the planet, wedged between two superpowers, India and China. Both countries watch Nepal closely and compete for influence there. An unstable Nepal could easily become a flashpoint in that rivalry. For India, unrest in Nepal risks spilling across their long open border. For China, chaos and Kathmandu could could complicate its belt and road investments in the region. And for the US Instability in South Asia matters because it affects both allies and adversaries in a region already under strain. Finally, and maybe most importantly, Nepal offers us a potential window into the future. Across the globe, younger generations are challenging entrenched elites, sometimes peacefully and sometimes violently. All right, coming up next, remnants from one of the Russian missiles used in this weekend's massive attack on Kiev is telling an interesting story about the effectiveness of Western sanctions and Russia's ability to adapt. I'll be right back. Hey, Mike Baker here. I want to take just a moment of your time to talk about my favorite purveyor of beef and steaks. Right. The great Tri Tails Ranch. Now, as I'm sure you're aware, you've probably already figured this one out. It's back to school season. Oh, which means the usual chaos around the home, constant shuttling of kids to school and sports events, and regular disagreements over what's for dinner when parents and kids are all running in different directions. Well, the folks at Tritails Beef know that feeling. They're a fifth generation family run Texas Ranch that understands that feeding a family during busy times is no small feat. So this month, they're making it easier when you grab their feed the family box. You'll get two pounds of premium ground beef for free. That's tacos or burgers or spaghetti or meatballs or chili or whatever you'd like or whatever the gang demands. It's real beef, pasture, raised grain, finished, dry, aged. There's no fillers, there's no mystery meat and, and no microwavable shapes for dinner. So if you're ready to reclaim dinner from the jaws of school year chaos, head over to tribe.compdb that's tribe.compdb because remember, frozen nuggets are not a food group. And your family, they deserve the best. Mike Baker here. Now, this is for anybody who's working on a job site or maybe just working around the yard trying to get stuff done or. Or banging around the garage trying to fix things. I want to tell you about a great company out there called Brunt. That's B R u n t. Look. Choosing work boots used to mean sacrificing comfort for durability. Brunt Workwear are hands down the most comfortable work boots that I've ever worn. I'm serious about that. I have the Marin soft toe boot and the Been comfortable right out of the box right from the start. And importantly, Brunt stands behind what they make. Listen to this. Wear them to work, and if they don't feel right, just send them back. Now that's a company that believes in their products. Brunt was tired of the workwear brands out there that are cutting corners. You work too hard, frankly, to be stuck in uncomfortable boots that don't hold up. So they built something better. Boots that are insanely comfortable and built for any job site. For a limited time. Our PDB listeners get $10 off at Brunt or when you use code PDB at checkout, just head over to bruntworkware.com use the code PDB and you're good to go. And after you order, they'll ask you what you heard about Brunt. Do us a favor and tell them the PDB sent you. Hey, Mike Baker here. Let me take a minute of your time to talk about your online security. I want to tell you about a great company out there that's, that's working hard to keep you safe and secure online. And I'm talking about Express VPN. Now, going online without ExpressVPN is like forgetting to mute yourself on a zoom call.

[B]

Right?

[A]

Right. You might think that no one's paying attention, but you're still broadcasting everything for strangers to see and hear in the U.S. internet service providers can see every website you visit and even sell that information to advertisers. ExpressVPN keeps you private by hiding your IP address so third parties can't track you, routing all your traffic through secure encrypted servers so your ISP can't see your browsing history and working seamlessly on all your devices. And that's important. Phones, laptops, tablets and more. So you're protected no matter where you are. And that's important as well. Look, I spend a lot of time on the road as you PDB faithful know and so I trust ExpressVPN when using the airport or hotel WI fi. I use ExpressVPN anytime I'm on public wi fi because it just makes good sense. Protect your privacy [e-mail] Baker that's B A K E R to get up to four extra months free again. ExpressVPN.

[B]

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 $1per month [e-mail] SpecialOffer.

[A]

Welcome back to the PDB Afternoon Bulletin. Turning now to Kiev, where Ukrainian investigators have made a fascinating discovery after a Russian Iskander missile slammed in the cabinet of Minister's building last week after the strike. The warhead on that missile, which failed to fully detonate, was torn apart and examined and inside officials found more than 30 foreign made components. We're talking about parts sourced from the U. S, the United Kingdom, Japan and Switzerland. Texas Instruments, Analog Devices, Fujitsu and a handful of other companies were identified on the list. Now this missile is telling us a story that goes beyond Putin's unwillingness to make peace. It's telling us something about the effectiveness, or lack thereof, of Western sanctions. For years, the US and its allies have been trying to strangle Russia's military industrial complex by cutting off access to advanced technology. And yet here we are three and a half years into Putin's war and a ballistic missile aimed at Ukraine's government buildings is still being powered in part by Western microelectronics. Ukraine's sanctions commissioner said a similar missile examined earlier contained 35 components made in the US along with parts from Japan, the UK and Switzerland. This time, investigators also found five components from Belarus and 57 from Russia. That's an important detail. Compared to missiles produced before the full scale invasion, the mix has shifted. Fewer Western parts, more Russian and Belarusian components. It shows Moscow is adapting, building more at home, sourcing more from its closest ally, and leaning heavily on smuggling networks to fill the gaps. So what does this mean? Well, for starters, it shows the limits of sanctions in a globalized economy. Microchips and sensors are essentially dual use technology. The same kind of circuitry that goes into a consumer laptop or a washing machine can also help guide a ballistic missile. And that makes enforcement incredibly difficult. Western companies like Texas Instruments and also Fujitsu aren't, aren't selling directly to Moscow. Instead, components are slipping into Russia through middlemen in third countries, China, Central Asia and the Middle East. Places where Western enforcement power is very limited. It also tells us something about Russia's war machine. The Kremlin has boasted of resilience under sanctions, but the reality is that Putin's most advanced weapons still rely on imported parts. The fact that Ukraine is finding Western electronics inside wreckage on the battlefield is proof that Russia has not achieved true self sufficiency. If sanctions enforcement tightens, if the smuggling routes are squeezed, Moscow will have a hard time maintaining both the quantity and the quality of of its missile stockpiles. And finally, this discovery is a messaging tool for Kyiv and its partners. By publishing the names of companies whose parts ended up in Russian missiles, Ukraine is putting pressure on the West. Close the loopholes, crack down on the networks, and treat these components as strategically vital. Think of it this way. In earlier wars, controlling oil, steel or rubber could decide the outcome. In today's wars, it's the microchips. Russia's attack on Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers didn't just fail to destroy the building, it exposed the cracks in a sanctions regime designed to cripple the Kremlin's arsenal. Sanctions can be effective, but they're not yet breaking Russia's ability to kill. That means the war in Ukraine isn't just being fought on the battlefield. It's being fought in global supply chains, in customs offices, and in the quiet back rooms of trading companies that decide where tiny dime sized pieces of silicon end up. And that, my friends, is the PDB afternoon bulletin for Wednesday 10th September. Now if you have any questions or comments, and I hope you do, please reach out to me at pdb@the first tv.com and to listen to the show ad free, which you can do, become a premium member of the President's Daily brief by visiting PDB premium.com It couldn't be any simpler. I'm Mike Baker, and I'll be back tomorrow. Until then, stay informed, stay safe, stay cool. Hey, Mike Baker here. Let me take just a moment of your time to talk personal finances. Now, you've probably noticed the cost of everything is, well, kind of out of control. And many folks now are relying on credit cards to cover some of those essentials. Gas bills, utility bills, grocery bills. You know what I'm talking about. Now, if that debt is piling up for you, you're not alone. Americans collectively get this. Oh, over $1 trillion in credit card debt. So here's the thing. By now, you might have considered reaching out to my friends over at American Financing, but you hesitated because you don't want to give up your low mortgage rate. Well, there's good news. They've created what's called the Smart Equity Loan. It's a solution designed to help you take control of your finances with without touching your current mortgage. Unlike a heloc, which can have varied interest rates, the Smart Equity Loan offers a fixed rate that means one predictable monthly payment. Giving you peace of mind, this loan allows you to leverage the equity in your home to pay off high interest debt and free up your cash flow and keep your existing low mortgage rate intact. It only takes 10 minutes to get started with no upfront or hidden fees. Call American Financing today and start saving now. The number 866-885-1881. That's 866-885-1881 or visit americanfinancing.net PDB.