The Bret Baier Podcast

After years of fighting through proxies, Iran and Israel are now exchanging direct military strikes—a dramatic escalation that’s unfolded over just the past five days. As tensions rise by the hour, President Trump is demanding Iran’s “unconditional surrender,” telling reporters he isn’t interested in a ceasefire but in bringing a “real end” to the conflict.

USA TODAY White House Correspondent Francesca Chambers, host of ‘The Big Ben Show’ Ben Domenech, and FOX News Senior Political Analyst Juan Williams break down what could happen next—especially if Iran chooses to escalate further.

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As President Trump calls on American companies to ramp up domestic production and reduce reliance on countries like China, many lawmakers are welcoming the push — seeing it as an alignment with priorities they’ve been working on for years.

Today, Bret revisits his conversation with Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Congressman Mike Waltz (R-FL), who have been leading the charge to bring shipbuilding back to America. They discuss how public-private partnerships and strategic incentives can jumpstart the industry, the critical role naval power plays on the global stage, and why investing in shipbuilding is not just an economic boost — but a matter of national security. 

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Before President Trump and Elon Musk publicly cut ties last week, they were closely working together to identify government waste. The President even tapped Musk to lead the charge, appointing him as head of the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency. Months later,  Musk is now saying President Trump's "one big, beautiful bill," is undermining the work his team set out to do in the first place.

Bret revisits his conversation with Elon Musk and the DOGE team from earlier this year, to take a look at what their initial goals and visions were, and how that compares with the work they've been able to do since. 

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The FBI has faced growing calls for greater transparency and accountability—something new FBI Director Kash Patel pledged to prioritize when he first stepped into the role.

Bret had the opportunity to travel to Quantico, Virginia, for a one-on-one conversation with Director Patel on his plans for the bureau.

Speaking from FBI headquarters, Director Patel tells Bret why he believes the bureau has taken a positive turn since President Trump returned to office—a shift he says is evident in the surge of FBI applications they're receiving, which have more than doubled from 2,500 to 5,700 per month over the past year. He also outlines the bureau’s efforts to tackle major challenges, including the fentanyl crisis and rising threats from China.

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The Senate returned to Capitol Hill on Monday with a new mission at the top of their agenda: uniting behind President Trump's "one big, beautiful bill." It took Congress weeks to narrowly agree on the legislation, passing it with a thin 215-214 vote. Many Senate Republicans have been vocal that they will not support the bill as it currently stands.

So, what will the major sticking points be for the Senate GOP? Will the modifications they make to the bill lead to it being sent back to the House? Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) breaks down the Senate's main concerns with the bill, the challenges that come with navigating the Senate's budget reconciliation rules, and why he remains confidently optimistic that the Senate will pass a bill that aligns with President Trump's priorities.

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Coming out of Memorial Day Weekend, Americans across the country are reminded of just how many men and women have valiantly sacrificed their lives for the nation. In the eyes of Congressman Jake Ellzey (R-TX) and Congressman Don Davis (D-NC), the two veterans who co-chair the Four Country Caucus, the least we can do is ensure their families, and the veterans who return from war are taken care of.

Today, Rep. Ellzey and Rep. Davis share how they've worked across the aisle on efforts to support veterans through meaningful legislation—efforts that have contributed to a record-low rate of veteran homelessness in the United States. They also discuss the encouraging increase being seen in military recruitment and how they work to put country over party on Capitol Hill.

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Just last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Trump were reportedly having a cordial two-hour phone call, while House Republicans were locked in a high-stakes standoff over what was being called a "big, beautiful bill." Fast forward to this week, and the political landscape has shifted: President Trump took to Truth Social to proclaim that President Putin has "gone absolutely crazy" following a blitz attack in Ukraine and House Speaker Mike Johnson is taking a victory lap after successfully rallying Republicans behind a sweeping piece of legislation.

To unpack how these developments unfolded so rapidly, South & Hill Strategies co-founder Colin Reed, former State Department Spokeswoman Marie Harf, and FOX News Radio Washington D.C. Correspondent Jared Halpern join Bret on this week's All-Star Panel.

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Since reports emerged that Chinese President Xi Jinping allegedly directed the People’s Liberation Army to prepare for an invasion of Taiwan by 2027, the United States has ramped up efforts to ensure Taiwan has the resources and support it needs to defend itself. On Capitol Hill, Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and Chris Coons (D-DE), both members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, are leading that charge with The PORCUPINE Act, a bill designed to streamline arms sales to Taiwan and bolster its defensive capabilities.

Sen. Coons and Sen. Ricketts join Bret to discuss why arming Taiwan is one of the most effective steps the U.S. can take to deter aggression in the region. They also weigh in on former President Biden's recent diagnosis, and the U.S. decision to formally accept a jet from Qatar.

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Since the start of his second term, President Trump has championed his vision for "One Big, Beautiful Bill" — a comprehensive piece of legislation that would include tax reforms, immigration enforcement, defense spending, while cutting what he describes as “waste, fraud and abuse” in social programs like Medicaid and SNAP. With just two days left before the initial deadline to get the bill to his desk, President Trump stepped up the pressure — paying Capitol Hill a visit on Tuesday morning to give House Republicans a "pep talk" in a last push for compromise before Memorial Day.

Meanwhile, outside of Washington, Democrats in former President Biden's inner circle are continuing to reveal what they knew, or didn't know, about the former President's health and competency. However, talk about these narratives took a new turn over the weekend, after President Biden announced he's been diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer.

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As President Trump's extensive Middle East tour continues, Bret remains on the ground, closely following the President’s meetings and offering historical insights into key countries like Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

In addition to his coverage, Bret has secured exclusive interviews with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani and Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Alibrahim, where he dives into strategic partnership opportunities, ongoing tensions in the region, and the future of U.S.-Middle East relations. 

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