The President's Daily Brief

Episode Date: September 24, 2025
Host: Mike Baker (Former CIA Operations Officer)

Overview

In this episode, Mike Baker breaks down a dramatic pivot in U.S. policy toward Russia and Ukraine, details a Secret Service takedown of a telecom threat during the UN General Assembly, and covers major friction between the Department of Homeland Security and California's new law enforcement mask ban. The episode wraps up with the conviction of Ryan Ruth, the would-be assassin of President Trump.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump’s Ukraine U-Turn and Scathing Remarks on Russia

[00:54–07:41]

• Policy Shift Announced:

  • After a meeting with President Zelensky at the UN, President Trump surprisingly reversed his previous stance, suggesting Ukraine could "fight and win all of Ukraine back in its original form."
  • Trump’s statement indicated support for reclaiming all lost territories, a major change from advising Ukraine to consider ceding land for peace.

• Notable Quotes:

  • “Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and ‘WIN’ all of Ukraine back in its original form.” – Donald Trump (quoted by Mike Baker) [02:04]
  • “Russia has been fighting aimlessly for three and a half years… This is not distinguishing Russia. In fact, it’s very much making them look like a paper tiger.” – Trump on Truth Social (quoted by Mike Baker) [02:35]

• "Paper Tiger" Remark:

  • Trump mocks Russia’s military, comparing its failures to the Chinese term for something that appears threatening but is ineffectual. Baker quips:
    • “If Putin is confused over the Chinese expression ‘paper tiger,’ he could always ask his no-limits partner in crime, Xi Jinping.” – Mike Baker [03:02]

• NATO and U.S. Role:

  • Trump now supports NATO countries shooting down Russian aircraft that violate allied airspace, mirroring Polish policy.
  • Still, Trump leans toward a hands-off approach:
    • “We will continue to supply weapons to NATO for NATO to do with what they want.” – Trump (summary) [03:45]

• Cautious Optimism & Wiggle Room:

  • Trump hedges on whether he trusts Putin:
    • “I’ll let you know in about a month from now.” – Trump (quoted by Mike Baker) [05:31]
  • Baker underscores that Trump is “best judged by what he does, not necessarily by what he says.”

• Analysis:

  • The shift provides Ukraine and allies hope, but skepticism remains whether rhetoric becomes real policy.

2. Secret Service Dismantles Telecom Threat to New York During UN General Assembly

[09:09–13:18]

• The Operation:

  • Secret Service agents shut down an advanced clandestine telecom network in the Tri-State area capable of jamming cell towers, crashing 911 dispatch, and disrupting the UN in just 12 minutes.
  • The operation raided over five abandoned apartments found with 300 servers and 100,000 SIM cards, which could blast out 30 million texts per minute.

• Quote & Humor:

  • “In a video statement, Secret Service Special Agent in charge Matt McCool… The dude’s name is McCool, and he’s in the Secret Service. That, my friends, is a righteous moniker.” – Mike Baker [10:20]

• Intelligence Discovery:

  • The server/SIM array traced back to criminal enterprises—“a hub for communications between foreign governments, organized crime syndicates, drug cartels, and human trafficking rings.”
  • The bust marked the debut of the Secret Service’s Advanced Threat Interdiction Unit in partnership with Homeland Security Investigations.

• Memorable Caution:

  • “It would be unwise to assume that this enterprise was a one-off effort.” – Anonymous investigator (paraphrased by Mike Baker) [12:32]

3. DHS Rejects California’s Law Enforcement Mask Ban

[13:19–16:39]

• The Bill:

  • California’s “No Secret Police Act” bars state/local law enforcement from wearing masks except for riot gear, undercover work, or medical need. Federal agents (ICE, DHS) are the main target.
  • Set to take effect in July 2026, the measure responds to masked ICE raids criticized by activists.

• Political Clash:

  • Governor Newsom’s View:
    • “Detentions by masked men hidden from accountability… that’s Trump’s America.” – Gavin Newsom (quoted by Mike Baker) [14:07]
    • Newsom brands masks as a tool to "terrorize our diverse communities."
  • Law Enforcement & Federal Response:
    • DHS: “We will not comply with Gavin Newsom's unconstitutional mask ban.” – DHS statement (quoted by Mike Baker) [15:20]
    • Riverside Sheriff (and 2026 gubernatorial hopeful) Chad Bianco:
      • “He didn't ban criminals from wearing masks. Anyone that votes for these people are absolute idiots.” – Chad Bianco (quoted by Mike Baker) [16:05]

• Broader Measures:

  • Laws also require officers to display identification, schools to alert parents if ICE arrives, and healthcare providers to require a warrant before admitting ICE agents.

• Legal Showdown Expected:

  • Legal experts call the bill a possible constitutional overreach, predicting federal-state court battles.

4. Back of the Brief: Ryan Ruth Convicted in Trump Assassination Attempt

[18:48–end]

• The Verdict:

  • Ryan Ruth, would-be Trump assassin from the West Palm Beach golf course attack, found guilty on all counts: attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, assaulting an officer, firearms violations.

• Key Facts:

  • Ruth conducted 17 “reconnaissance trips” to the site before the attack.
  • Hid with an SKS semi-automatic rifle outfitted with sniper-like tradecraft and left a manifesto offering $150,000 bounty.
  • Representing himself, Ruth called only two distant friends as witnesses, introduced nearly no evidence, and attempted to stab himself with a pen at sentencing.

• Courtroom Moment:

  • “When the guilty verdict was read, Ruth tried to stab himself in the neck with a pen. Before U.S. marshals restrained him. His daughter shouted at the jury, calling the trial rigged.” – Mike Baker [19:56]

• Sentencing:

  • Ruth faces life imprisonment.

Notable Quotes

• “After seeing the economic trouble that it’s causing Russia, I think Ukraine… is in a position to fight and win all of Ukraine back in its original form, maybe even go further than that.”
  – Donald Trump (paraphrased, quoted by Mike Baker) [02:07]
• "This is not distinguishing Russia. In fact, it's very much making them look like a paper tiger."
  – Donald Trump [02:35]
• "We will continue to supply weapons to NATO for NATO to do with what they want."
  – Donald Trump [03:45]
• "It would be unwise to assume that this enterprise was a one-off effort."
  – Secret Service investigator [12:32]
• "We will not comply with Gavin Newsom’s unconstitutional mask ban."
  – DHS statement [15:20]
• "He didn’t ban criminals from wearing masks. Anyone that votes for these people are absolute idiots."
  – Sheriff Chad Bianco [16:05]
• "The evidence has shown one thing and one thing only. The defendant wanted Donald Trump dead."
  – Assistant U.S. attorney Christopher Brown [19:35]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:54] – Trump’s policy U-turn on Ukraine, major quotes and context
• [03:45] – NATO weapons support/Trump’s stance
• [09:09] – Secret Service telecom takedown during UN
• [13:19] – California’s mask ban for law enforcement, federal pushback
• [18:48] – Verdict and courtroom drama in Ryan Ruth’s Trump assassination trial

Tone & Takeaways

Mike Baker maintains a brisk, sharp tone, using humor (“Agent McCool… that’s a righteous moniker”) and sarcasm (on Newsom: “checked his air Vogued for the cameras and flopped onto the fainting couch”) to comment on the day’s events. The episode is equal parts analysis and attitude, with Baker underscoring uncertainty around Trump’s intentions while expressing clear skepticism about California’s policies.

Listeners come away with a clear sense of policy turbulence at the highest levels, deepening legal clashes between states and the federal government, and the continuing threat (and vigilance) around political violence.