Loading...
Loading...

It's Friday, the 6th of March. Welcome to the PDB afternoon bulletin. I'm Mike Baker,
your eyes and ears on the world stage. Alright, let's get breathed.
First up, intelligent sources say members of Iran's security forces may already be abandoning
the regime, as reports indicate that personnel are failing to report for duty amid ongoing
American and Israeli strikes. I'll bring you the latest.
Later in the show, an effort in Congress aimed at limiting President Trump's war powers
over Iran collapse this week on Capitol Hill after key votes held on Wednesday and Thursday,
leaving the administration with broad latitude to continue the campaign. I'll explain
what lawmakers were trying to do and why it didn't work. But first, today's afternoon
spotlight. As U.S. and Israeli forces continue to dominate the skies over Iran, a new question
is beginning to surface among analysts and intelligence officers. Could the pressure
now be starting to crack the regime itself? After nearly a week of relentless airstrikes
that have battered Iran's military infrastructure and decimated the country's leadership ranks,
Israeli intelligence sources say there are signs that some Iranian soldiers, police officers
and members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the IRGC, are failing to report for
duty. That's a potential indicator of strain or dissent inside the regime's security apparatus.
The claim appears in a report from the economist, which describes the American Israeli air
campaign as an overwhelming military success so far. Earlier this week, U.S. Central Command
said nearly 2,000 targets have been struck inside Iran, while the Israeli military says
its aircraft have dropped more than 4,000 munitions since the war began. According to General
Dan Cain, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Iranian missile launches have now declined
by nearly 90% that's 90% since the first day of the war, while drone attacks have dropped
off by some 70%. Reports also suggest Iran's stockpile of munitions and equipment have been
severely depleted. At the same time, the strikes have dealt a major blow to Iran's chain of command.
As we've been tracking here on the PDB, much of the country's senior military and political
leadership has been killed, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Hamani. His early officials
have already signaled that potential successors, including Hamani's son Moshtaba, will be targeted
for assassination as the campaign continues. As a result, the regime is now facing extraordinary
pressure on multiple fronts, leaving its ability to effectively coordinate operations across the
region diminished. For example, according to reports cited by the Times of Israel,
militant groups such as Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad say they've been unable to reach
their usual handlers within the IRG scene since the war began. Those IRGC officers normally
maintain constant contact with the groups, coordinating funding and intelligence and operational
guidance. The sudden silence has raised questions about whether those command channels have been
severed, if the IRGC officers responsible for Palestinian affairs have been killed, or if they
have simply abandoned their posts. Still, other reporting suggests that the picture may be more
complicated. Officials briefed on the latest intel assessments told the Washington Post on Thursday
that while they are aware of reports that some Iranian security personnel have failed to report
for duty, that may not necessarily signal a collapse in morale. Instead, the officials said the
behavior could reflect orders for forces to disperse and avoid gathering in barracks or compounds,
which have become prime targets for Israeli air strikes. In other words, what might appear to be
the early signs of a security breakdown could also simply be battlefield adaptation, and despite
the scale of the bombardment, these officials said there is little evidence so far that the regime's
grip on power inside the country is slipping. European and Arab officials familiar with the intelligence
assessments say Iran's governing structure, which was said to be designed to survive this kind
of decapitation strike, remains largely intact. Security forces reportedly continue to patrol
Iranian cities. The besieged paramilitary remains active, and there have been no reports of
major defections or popular uprisings inside the country. And according to some reports,
regime officials have been vocal in stating that any citizens taking to the streets to protest
the regime will be killed. Senior Iranian officials reportedly anticipated the possibility of
leadership losses and built what analysts describe as a layered command structure with multiple
individuals prepared to step into key roles if senior figures were killed. Even after several
top leaders were eliminated in the opening strikes, replacement officials were quickly
appointed to maintain continuity of command. But to be clear, none of that means that the regime
is on solid ground. Authoritarian governments rarely collapse because buildings are destroyed or
weapon stockpiles are depleted. They collapse when the security forces that sustain them begin to
fracture when soldiers stop showing up when commanders defect or the state loses the ability to
enforce its authority. Now whether that process is beginning to unfold inside Iran, well,
that remains unclear. Okay, coming up next, we'll look at this week's failed effort by U.S.
Democrats to limit President Trump's war powers over Iran. I'll be right back.
Hey, Mike Baker here. With a message for dog lovers everywhere. Now, if you're like me, dogs are
an important part of family life. We've got two. Of course, our Golden Retriever Hendrixes
is a good old boy now at 14 years of age and Monty are very cute, but somewhat dim-witted,
uh, King Charles Spaniel. Now, as you're probably known, when it comes to your dog food,
you won't, it always seems to be a compromise, right? It's either fresh and healthy or it's easy
to store and serve. That's why I love Sundays for dogs. With the Sundays for dogs brand,
you get both, right? You get fresh and healthy dog food that's also easy to store and serve.
Founded by veterinarian Dr. Tory Waxman, Sundays is created with air-dried real food,
made in human food grade kitchens using the same ingredients that you'd use to cook for your
family. Everybody is clean, packed with real meat, fruits and veggies, no weird, unpronounceable
ingredients, no fillers. Compared to other brands, Sundays invests 50 times, that's 50, 50 times
more in its ingredients, per true premium quality. There's no cost-cutting here. Just scoop and
serve, no freezer, no thawing, no prep, no mists, right? No fuss, no moths, as they say.
Make the switch to Sundays. Go right now to sundaysfordogs.com, slash PDB50,
and get 50% off your first order, where you can use code PDB50 at checkout. That's 50% off your
first order at sundaysfordogs.com slash PDB50. Again, Sundaysfordogs.com slash PDB50,
or use the code PDB50 at checkout. Mike Baker here. Let me ask you a question about personal
finances. Have you dabbled by any chance in investing here and there, but haven't been happy
with how things are going? Well, stash helps turn good intentions into consistent progress.
Stash isn't just another investing app. It's a registered investment advisor that combines
automated investing with expert personalized guidance, so you don't have to worry about gambling
or figuring it out on your own. Don't let your money sit around, put it to work with stash.
Go to get.stash.com slash PDB to see how you can receive $25 towards your first stock purchase
and to view important disclosures. That's get.stash.com slash PDB. Again, that's get.stash.com slash PDB.
This is a paid non-client endorsement, not a guarantee nor representative of all clients.
Smart portfolios are discretionary managed accounts and subject to additional fees.
See the advisor agreement and deposit account agreement for details. Investment Advisory
Services provided by stash investments LLC and SEC registered investment advisor. Investing
involves risk. Hey PDB listeners, Mike Baker here with a quick recommendation for your podcast
playlist. Look, if you like deep and insightful conversations with world-class thinkers and who
doesn't, come on. Check out the Jordan Harbinger Show. It's available on Apple podcasts, Spotify,
or wherever you listen. Jordan sits down with people who've been in the room at the highest levels.
From national security leaders to thinkers reshaping how we understand the world. You'll hear ideas
and stories that go way beyond the usual sound bites. Two episodes I'd recommend are you
interview with our friend Ryan McBeth on Venezuela's collapse. That's a clear look at how a once wealthy
oil state unraveled and what that means, of course, for regional stability and also his
conversation with Douglas Murray where they explore the pressures facing Western democracies
and what those trends mean for long-term stability. Download the Jordan Harbinger Show. That's
H-A-R-B-I-N-G-E-R just like it sounds on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your
shows or just go to JordanHarbinger.com slash start to dive right in. It's one of those podcasts
to make you smarter. So give it a go. The New York Post has been delivering impactful headlines
for over two centuries and every weekday morning I'll bring them straight to you. I'm Caitlin Becker,
host of The New York Postcast. From Washington to Wall Street, if it matters to you, you'll hear it here
and it wouldn't be the post without the stories other outlets like to ignore. So ask your smart speaker
to play the NY Postcast. Listen and subscribe on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Welcome back to the afternoon bulletin. As US military operations against Iran continue overseas,
a very different battle unfolded this week in Washington DC, one over who actually has the
authority to send America to war. On Wednesday, the US Senate rejected a resolution that would
have forced President Trump to seek congressional authorization before continuing military operations
against Iran. The measure introduced by Democratic Senator Tim Cain of Virginia failed on a 47
to 53 vote, largely along party lines. The vote was held after several days of classified
briefings on Capitol Hill from senior administration officials that raised questions in both parties
about how long the US operation in Iran will last. Only one Republican Senator Rand Paul
of Kentucky voted in favor of the resolution while Democratic Senator John Federman of Pennsylvania
broke ranks with his party to oppose it. Now, the resolution would not have stopped military operations
overnight. Instead, it invoked the 1973 war powers resolution, which allows Congress to require
the president to end hostilities unless lawmakers formally authorize the conflict. Under the proposal,
US forces would eventually have to halt offensive operations against Iran, though defensive actions
such as protecting American troops would still be permitted. Supporters argued the vote was about
reasserting Congress's constitutional role in matters of war and peace. But critics, mostly Republicans,
warned that restricting the president in the middle of an ongoing military campaign would undermine
US forces and embolden adversaries. Some lawmakers also argued the current strikes fall within
the president's authority as commander in chief. And the effort to restrain the president didn't
gain traction in the House, either. On Thursday, lawmakers rejected a similar bipartisan resolution
introduced by Republican Congressman Thomas Massey of Kentucky and Democratic Congressman
Rokana of California. That measure failed on a 212 to 219 vote after several Democrats joined
most Republicans in opposing it. Their proposal would have also required the president to
terminate US military involvement in hostilities against Iran unless Congress formally authorized
the conflict, essentially forcing lawmakers to take a clear position on whether the war should
continue. Taken together, the votes amount to the first real test of whether Congress was willing
to curb the president's authority after the conflict began. And at least for now, lawmakers appear
reluctant to do so, leaving the administration with broad latitude as the military campaign against
Iran continues. And that, my friends, is the PDB afternoon bulletin for Friday, the 6th of March.
If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me at PDB at thefirsttv.com.
This evening, as with every Friday evening, we launch a brand new episode of our extended weekend
show, the PDB situation report. Terrific guests this weekend, we've got former US fighter pilot,
Ryan Bowdenheimer. You may know him as Max Afterburner. Check out his YouTube channel,
that's at Max Afterburner USA. He's providing insight into the air campaign against Iran,
along with Bill Rosio from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies with analysis of what's
happening on the ground in Iran. You can catch it tonight at 10pm on the first TV, as well as on
our YouTube channel at President's Daily Brief and podcast platforms all over podcast land.
That's the PDB weekend situation report. I'm Mike Baker and I'll be back over the weekend with
the said PDB situation report. Until then, stay informed, stay safe, stay cool.
Hey Mike Baker here. Now you may know me as the host of the President's Daily Brief. Well,
frankly, I hope you do know me as the host of the PDB, but did you know I'm also a business owner?
That's right. Have been for many years. And as a business owner, I've always focused on
maintaining great client relationships and working to develop new clients. And what you need for
that, you need a great communication system. And that's why I want to talk to you about a great
company out there called Quo. That's Q-U-O. Any of you in business know this, right? Smooth,
efficient communications is a key to success. You can't afford to miss a call or a message.
I'm this customer interaction. You know, this is revenue walking out the door. And that's why
today's episode is sponsored by Quo, the modern and effective way to run your business
communications. Quo is the number one rated business phone system on G2 and it's trusted by 90,000
businesses because it's built for modern teams. One shared number for calls and texts,
conversation history, and smart AI that summarizes calls and highlights next steps. Even after hours
when you're busy catching up on episodes of our PDB situation report or whatever you end up
doing after hours. It works seamlessly on your phone and computer, keep your existing number,
and scales as you grow, which is important. Make this the year where no opportunity and no
potential customer slips away. Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first six months
when you go to Quo.com slash PDB. That's Quo Q-U-O. Go to Quo.com slash PDB. Quo, no missed calls,
no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no missed customers no
The President's Daily Brief
