In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin:

New reporting sheds light on one of the biggest unanswered questions after Nicolás Maduro’s ouster: why the Trump administration has chosen not to back Venezuela’s opposition leader, despite expectations of a democratic handoff.

Israeli defense sources warn that Iran may be plotting to assassinate Syria’s president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, as quiet contacts begin to open between Israel and Damascus—raising fears of a deliberate attempt to sabotage a potential thaw.

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In this episode of The President’s Daily Brief:

Venezuela’s new leader Delcy Rodríguez abruptly softens her tone following the capture of Nicolás Maduro, signaling possible cooperation with Washington—but her past record and the power structures still in place raise doubts about whether a real political transition is underway.

Alarm bells ring across the Baltics after a sixth undersea cable outage in less than a week, as authorities investigate suspected sabotage and Western allies warn the pattern may point to coordinated Russian interference.

Russia strikes an American-owned oil facility in Ukraine, triggering a massive oil spill in the city of Dnipro and underscoring the expanding scope of Moscow’s targeting.

And in today’s Back of the Brief—President Trump pushes back on Kremlin claims, saying U.S. intelligence shows Ukraine did not target Vladimir Putin’s residence during a recent drone strike.

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In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin:

First up— stunning new reporting suggests Ali Khamenei is already planning an escape route out of Iran as nationwide protests enter their ninth straight day—an extraordinary signal of growing concern at the very top of the regime.

Later in the show— a major shakeup at the highest levels of power in Ukraine, as President Volodymyr Zelensky taps military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov to run his presidential office, prioritizing battlefield experience amid mounting pressure for a peace deal.

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In this episode of The President’s Daily Brief:

First up—remarkable new details are emerging about the operation that captured Nicolás Maduro. Covert CIA teams tracked his movements for months, while Delta Force rehearsed the raid on a full-scale replica of his safe house—leaving nothing to chance.

Later in the show—things are just getting started for the deposed dictator, as newly unsealed federal charges lay out allegations of narco-terrorism, cocaine trafficking, and weapons offenses tied to Maduro’s inner circle.

Plus—new reports from Iran indicate at least sixteen people have been killed as protests driven by inflation and economic strain spread nationwide and authorities move aggressively to suppress the unrest.

And in today’s Back of the Brief—Britain and France carry out a joint airstrike on Islamic State targets in Syria.

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In this Special Edition of The President’s Daily Brief:

The world wakes up to stunning news as the United States captures Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro following a sweeping U.S. military operation deep inside Caracas. We break down Operation Absolute Resolve, including how U.S. intelligence tracked Maduro for months, the scale of the air campaign, and the special forces raid that led to his capture.

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In this episode of The PDB Situation Report:

Anger spills into the streets of Tehran as nationwide protests turn deadly, transforming economic despair into open defiance of Iran’s clerical regime. Shirin Nariman, a human rights advocate and former political prisoner in Iran, joins us to share her personal story and provide insight into the situation on the ground.

Israel closes out a turbulent 2025, marked by war in Gaza and open conflict with Iran, with major questions looming about what comes next. We’re joined by Edmund Fitton-Brown for a look ahead at the challenges Israel faces in the year to come.

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In this episode of The President's Daily Brief:

Protests in Iran turn deadly as security forces open fire on demonstrators, escalating an already volatile situation and prompting a sharp warning from President Donald Trump.

A surprising U.S. domestic story with global implications, as a New York Times investigation reveals how Oklahoma’s marijuana boom led to hidden ownership networks stretching from rural farms to New York—and unexpected ties to China.

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In this episode of The President's Daily Brief:

First up—new reporting from The New York Times pulls back the curtain on Russia’s war machine, revealing a system built on abuse, coercion, and the ruthless exploitation of its own soldiers fighting in Ukraine.

Later in the show—fresh warning signs from Beijing, as Xi Jinping uses his New Year’s speech to double down on Taiwan, declaring reunification inevitable after a round of large-scale Chinese military exercises.

Plus—new details from President Trump’s meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu suggest Israel is already floating the idea of a second round of strikes against Iran.

And in today’s Back of the Brief—Finland seizes a cargo vessel suspected of damaging a vital undersea cable linking two NATO neighbors.

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In this special New Year’s Eve edition of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin Mike Baker looks back at the stories from 2025 that didn’t quite make it into the President’s Daily Brief — not because they weren’t real, but because they didn’t fit the daily intelligence picture.

From a drunken raccoon with a rap sheet in Virginia, to a Christmas brawl on Nantucket that left police reports looking more like classified documents, to Florida man staying firmly on brand, and a “masked intruder” in New York who turned out to be something else entirely — these are the strange, true stories that crossed our radar this year.

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In this episode of The President's Daily Brief:

First up—new details emerge on a covert United States strike inside Venezuela, as reporting reveals the Central Intelligence Agency carried out a drone attack on a port facility, signaling a sharp escalation in pressure on the Maduro regime.

Later in the show—new reporting from The Washington Post shows how Russia’s war in Ukraine is taking a growing toll at home, with social strain and public disillusionment becoming harder to hide.

Plus—Saudi Arabia bombs a Yemeni port city following a weapons shipment from the United Arab Emirates, exposing a deepening rift between two key Gulf allies.

And in today’s Back of the Brief—a twenty-one-year-old Texas man faces terrorism charges for allegedly supplying bomb-making materials to ISIS.

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