August 19th, 2026: Putin Is Secretly Rebuilding Iran’s War Machine & China’s South China Sea Fortress

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: Russia is reportedly sending Iran drone components, ammunition and explosives through a protected Caspian Sea supply route, helping Tehran rebuild what American and Israeli airstrikes destroyed. China completes the first phase of a nearly four-mile-long artificial island that analysts believe could eventually become its largest military base in the South China Sea. Fuel rationing returns to Moscow as Ukrainian drone attacks disrupt Russian refineries and force gas stations to limit purchases. In today’s Back of the Brief, the United Arab Emirates suspends all economic ties with Iran after accusing Tehran of launching ballistic missiles toward maritime traffic. 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 Pendulum: Ditch the afternoon crashes and naturally curb your cravings with 48% off the doctor-recommended Pendulum Metabolic Daily at https://pendulumlife.com/PDB Sundays for Dogs: Upgrade your dog’s food without the hassle—try Sundays for Dogs and get 50% off your first order at https://sundaysfordogs.com/PDBor use code PDB at checkout. QUO: Make this the season where no opportunity slips away. Try QUO for free PLUS get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to https://Quo.com/PDB