PDB Situation Report | October 17th, 2025: Russia’s Economy Buckling Under Ukraine Drone Strikes & Taiwan Braces for What’s Next
In this episode of The President’s Daily Brief:
Ukraine’s drone war is hitting Russia where it hurts most—its wallet. Precision strikes on refineries have crippled Moscow’s fuel production and triggered a budget crisis. Correspondent for the Kyiv Post Jason Jay Smart joins us with his insight.
China’s military is stepping up operations around Taiwan, and officials on the island are warning it could be a prelude to something bigger. Former CIA analyst Buck Sexton just got back from Taiwan—he’ll join us to break down what he saw on the ground.
To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President’s Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com.Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President’s Daily Brief.YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief
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PDB Afternoon Bulletin | October 17th, 2025: Bolton Indicted & Discord At The Pentagon
In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin:
First—Former National Security Adviser John Bolton was indicted by a federal grand jury Thursday on 18 counts over his alleged mishandling of classified materials. I’ll have the details.
Later in the show—in a surprise move, the Pentagon announced that the four-star admiral leading U.S. military forces in Latin America will step down from his post before the end of the year. The departure reportedly stems from mounting tensions with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth over the Trump administration’s approach to fighting cartels, and comes amid escalating tensions with Venezuela.
To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President’s Daily Brief by visiting PDBPremium.com.
Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief.
YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief
Goldbelly: Impress your friends and family. go to https://GOLDBELLY.com and get 20% off your first order with promo code PDB.
Stash Financial: Don't Let your money sit around. Go to https://get.stash.com/PDB to see how you can receive $25 towards your first stock purchase.
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The Day the World Almost Ended: Episode 1— The Soviet Officers Who Defied the Machines
A special look at episode 1 of Mike Baker's PDB special subscriber only series:
On September 26th, 1983, the world came closer to nuclear war than most people ever realized.
Inside a secret Soviet bunker, Lieutenant Colonel Stanislav Petrov faced a terrifying choice: trust the computers that screamed U.S. missiles were on the way—or trust his gut. Protocol said one phone call could unleash thousands of Soviet warheads and end civilization in less than an hour.This is the story of how one man’s decision in the middle of the night may have saved humanity.In this first episode of PDB’s The Day the World Almost Ended, Mike Baker takes you inside the Cold War’s most dangerous moment, explores the global tensions that set the stage, and explains why Petrov’s judgment still matters in today’s world of AI, cyber threats, and hair-trigger nuclear systems.Watch now to learn how close we came to annihilation—and why the fate of billions rested on a single man at a console in 1983.
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October 17th, 2025: American Bombers Spotted Over Venezuela & Israel Warns Hamas Over Hostage Bodies
In this episode of The President’s Daily Brief:
Three U.S. B-52 bombers were spotted flying just off Venezuela’s coast. Washington calls it a routine patrol, but the timing—and the bombers’ cheeky call signs—suggest a not-so-subtle message to Nicolás Maduro.
Israel warns the Trump administration that the Gaza ceasefire deal could stall unless Hamas returns the bodies of Israeli hostages.
Ahead of today’s meeting between Presidents Trump and Zelensky, Russia launches one of its largest overnight assaults in months—firing hundreds of drones and missiles across Ukraine.
And in today’s Back of the Brief—AI has officially entered the war room. A top U.S. general admits he’s using ChatGPT to help refine military strategy.
To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President’s Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com.Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief.YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief
Goldbelly: Impress your friends and family. go to https://GOLDBELLY.com and get 20% off your first order with promo code PDB.Stash Financial: Don't Let your money sit around. Go to https://get.stash.com/PDB to see how you can receive $25 towards your first stock purchase.
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PDB Afternoon Bulletin | October 16th, 2025: ESCALATION: Trump Greenlights CIA Strikes Inside Venezuela & Europe’s High-Tech Border Plan Revealed
In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin:
First up—the Trump administration is raising the stakes in Venezuela, giving the greenlight for the CIA to carry out covert action inside the country. We’ll break down what’s behind the authorization and how it changes America’s campaign against Nicolás Maduro.
Later in the show—Europe’s preparing for a new kind of war. A leaked defense roadmap offers new details on its so-called “drone wall,” a coordinated high-tech shield stretching across the EU’s eastern frontier to counter Russian incursions and protect member states.
To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President’s Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com.
Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief.
YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief
Goldbelly: Impress your friends and family. go to https://GOLDBELLY.com and get 20% off your first order with promo code PDB.
American Financing: Call American Financing today to find out how customers are saving an avg of $800/mo. NMLS 182334, https://nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.327% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-885-1881 for details about credit costs and terms. Visit http://www.AmericanFinancing.net/PDB.
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Each morning, the President of the United States receives a highly classified briefing on the most important issues facing the country -- The President's Daily Brief. Now you can hear your very own PDB, in the form of a podcast, every morning at 6am Eastern, and every afternoon at 4pm Eastern. You'll get 20 minutes of the most important topics of the day and why you should care, arming you with what you need to know to help solve America's most pressing challenges. Former CIA Operations Officer Mike Baker hosts new episodes daily.
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