The President's Daily Brief December 18th, 2025: China Accused of Accessing Sensitive U.S. Nuclear Research & A European Ukraine Force
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Dec 18, 2025 A congressional report raises alarms about China possibly accessing sensitive U.S. nuclear research, linking it to military applications. European leaders are strategizing a multinational force to support Ukraine, with discussions on deploying Western troops. In a shocking twist, a murdered MIT professor may have ties to Iranian intelligence. Meanwhile, the manhunt for the Brown University shooter intensifies as new surveillance footage reveals critical evidence and a person of interest is identified.
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US Research Links To Chinese Military Risk
- A congressional probe found DOE-funded research collaborations with Chinese institutions linked to the PLA and defense industry.
- The report says decades of weak safeguards let U.S. taxpayer-funded science potentially benefit China's military buildup.
Open Academic Ties Weren't Safeguarded
- Many collaborations occurred openly through approved academic partnerships rather than secret back-channels.
- Investigators say the DOE lacked standardized risk assessments and cross-agency oversight for foreign ties.
Build A Risk-Based Research Firewall
- Congress is pushing targeted legislation to block federal funding for collaborations with foreign-adversary controlled entities.
- Lawmakers and investigators urge building a firewall while avoiding blanket bans that could harm U.S. scientific competitiveness.