The President's Daily Brief
The First TV
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
28 snips
Mar 20, 2026 • 27min
March 20th, 2026: U.S. Airpower Is Now Hitting Iran In The Strait & An American Cartel Takeover
U.S. airpower is striking Iranian boats, mines, and infrastructure to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Allies offer vague support while planners weigh ground options like Karg Island. A California-born figure is reported to have taken control of Mexico’s most violent cartel. A new U.S. assessment suggests China is not on an imminent timeline to invade Taiwan.
8 snips
Mar 19, 2026 • 14min
PDB Afternoon Bulletin | March 19th, 2026: The Fight With Iran Just Got More Dangerous & FBI Probe Into Former Trump Official
Strikes on Gulf energy sites and a South Pars attack push oil prices higher and raise the risk of a wider supply shock. Discussion of U.S. options to stabilize markets, from reserve releases to shipping waivers. An FBI probe into a recent senior intelligence official explores alleged leaks and internal trust fractures within the administration.
13 snips
Mar 19, 2026 • 22min
March 19th, 2026: Gulf Leaders To Trump: Finish Off Iran & Israel Targets Iranian Energy
Gulf leaders press Washington to pursue a decisive campaign against Iran to prevent further regional attacks. Israeli strikes target Iran’s massive South Pars gas field, risking damage to critical energy infrastructure. Russian tankers head for Cuba, raising a sanctions standoff and Cold War echoes. The White House floats new concessions to end a DHS shutdown, including expanded body camera use and enforcement limits.
24 snips
Mar 18, 2026 • 17min
PDB Afternoon Bulletin | March 18th, 2026: Iran’s Security Forces Are Now On The Run & Russia Boosts Tehran’s War Effort
Reporting shows Iranian security forces driven underground by precision strikes, scattering command centers and straining policing. Discussion covers targeted campaigns against internal enforcers and the collapse of local services. New reporting also details Russia supplying satellite intel and upgraded drone tech to boost Tehran’s strike capabilities and tactics learned from other battlefields.
23 snips
Mar 18, 2026 • 24min
March 18th, 2026: Who’s Actually In Charge Of Iran Right Now? & Trump Delays China Trip
Reports of secret backchannels with Iran and questions about who in Tehran can actually strike a deal. A major presidential trip to China is postponed as attention shifts to the Iran conflict. A lethal Pakistani airstrike in Kabul escalates regional tensions. Efforts to form a multinational escort for shipping in the Strait of Hormuz face Western reluctance.
19 snips
Mar 17, 2026 • 15min
PDB Afternoon Bulletin | March 17th, 2026: Iran’s De-Facto Leader Killed & Ecuador Declares War on Cartels
Breaking reports around a targeted strike that reportedly killed Iran’s de-facto wartime decision-maker and the ripple effects across the regime’s power structure. A deep look at how that leader rose to influence and who might fill the vacuum. Ecuador launches a massive, U.S.-backed military offensive against drug cartels, sending tens of thousands of troops and imposing curfews to reclaim coastal trafficking corridors.
22 snips
Mar 17, 2026 • 26min
March 17th, 2026: Iran’s Missile Campaign Breaking Down & Hezbollah Link In Michigan
A rundown of why Iran’s missile and drone barrages appear to be slowing and what that means for how long the campaign might continue. A look at new reporting linking the Michigan preschool attacker to a relative with Hezbollah ties. Coverage of Cuba’s nationwide blackout and hints of an economic opening. A report on Moscow testing mobile internet shutdowns to control online information.
21 snips
Mar 16, 2026 • 16min
PDB Afternoon Bulletin | March 16th, 2026: Trump’s Hormuz Coalition & Israel Pushes Into Lebanon
A deep dive into an international plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and which countries might actually send ships. A look at the risks of bolder military moves like seizing Karg Island. Coverage of localized Israeli ground actions in southern Lebanon and why places like Qiyam matter. Reporting on evacuations and the wider regional ripple effects.
15 snips
Mar 16, 2026 • 27min
March 16th, 2026: U.S. Rushing Marines To The Middle East & Chaos in Cuba
U.S. Marines are racing back to the Middle East with a rapid-response force and heavy capabilities. A major U.S. airstrike on Karg Island and its strategic ripples are discussed. Protests in Cuba turn violent amid blackouts and fuel shortages. North Korea conducts live-fire launches of tactical nuclear-capable rockets. Chinese military flights resume around Taiwan after an unusual pause.
46 snips
Mar 14, 2026 • 1h 1min
PDB Situation Report | March 13th, 2026: The Strait Of Hormuz Showdown: How The U.S. Can Secure The Gulf
Mark Montgomery, a retired rear admiral and strategic naval analyst, explains why the Strait of Hormuz has become a critical military flashpoint and what it would take to restore safe shipping. Daniel Turner, an energy industry expert and farmer, explores how fighting rattles oil, LNG, tankers, and insurance, and why markets jitter even without immediate shortages.
