In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin:
First—Iran is reportedly exploring unconventional ways to strike U.S. forces, including using mine-carrying dolphins to target U.S. warships in the Strait of Hormuz. But as tensions rise, Tehran is also signaling a possible return to negotiations, while Washington weighs its next steps.
Later in the show—After nearly eleven weeks, the longest shutdown in Department of Homeland Security history has finally come to an end. But the fight over immigration enforcement that caused it is far from over.
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
Chapter: Compare every medicare plan call 915-671-5252 today! Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and stand alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan’s contract renewal. While we have a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. We search and recommend all plans, even those we don’t directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. Please contact https://Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.
Cardiff: Get fast business funding without bank delays—apply in minutes with Cardiff and access up to $500,000 in same‑day funding at https://Cardiff.co/PDB
Tax Relief Advocates: End your tax nightmare today by visiting us online at https://TRA.com or call 800-583-6515
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It's Friday, the 1st of May. Welcome to the PDB afternoon bulletin. I'm Mike Baker, your eyes and ears on the world stage. Alright, let's get briefed.
First up, Iran is reportedly exploring unconventional ways to strike U.S. forces, including using mind carrying dolphins to target U.S. warships in the strait of Hormuz.
Regardless, as tensions rise, Tecran is also signaling a possible return to negotiations while Washington weighs its next steps.
Later in the show, after nearly 11 weeks, the longest shutdown in the Department of Homeland Security history has come to an end. But the fight over immigration enforcement that caused it is far from over.
Because, of course, dysfunctional politics are never over in Washington, D.C. I'll have the details.
But first in today's afternoon spotlight. We begin today with a closer look at the increasingly unpredictable in some cases, unconventional ways that Iran may be preparing to escalate the conflict.
According to new reporting, Iranian officials are now weighing a range of asymmetric options to target U.S. forces in and around the strait of Hormuz, including the potential use of dolphins equipped with naval mines to attack American warships.
Now, the use of flipper and her buddies is reportedly just one of many tactics being floated by the Iranian regime.
As an aside, only folks of a certain age might recall the amazing 1960s TV series called Flipper, and starring a smiling, incredibly well-trained bottle-nosed dolphin.
In reality, the role of Flipper was played by several different trained female dolphins. That's a bit of news that you might not find on other podcasts.
But I digress.
Aside from possibly blowing up dolphins, which seems right in line with the Iranian regime's character, official say Tehran is also considering deploying submarines into the strait and is already threatened to cut key undersea communications cables that run through the waterway, which could significantly disrupt global internet traffic.
Taken together, the regime's strategy is, of course, focused on targeting not just military assets, but the infrastructure that underpins global commerce and communication.
Inside Iran, there is growing concern that the current U.S. blockade aimed at choking off Tehran's oil exports is not simply an alternative to war, but a form of warfare itself.
As one analyst told the Wall Street Journal, the blockade is now being viewed in Tehran, quote, not as a substitute for war, but as a different manifestation of it, end quote.
Well, it didn't take them long to figure that one out, and that perception is beginning to shape decision-making. In fact, some Iranian officials are now warning that continued economic pressure could make renewed military conflict the less costly option.
At the same time, Iranian leaders are continuing to issue direct threats. In response to reports of the Trump administration is considering additional strikes, Iran's aerospace force commander warned this week, quote,
we've seen what happened to your regional bases, we will see the same thing happen to your warships, end quote. It's a comment that no doubt has the dolphins concerned.
So the message from Tehran is clear, if pressure continues, escalation will follow. Still, even as those threats are being made, Iran is also signaling a potential willingness to reengage diplomatically.
According to Reuters, Tehran said another proposal for negotiations to Pakistani mediators on Friday, just days after President Trump rejected their previous offer.
Details of that proposal were made unclear, and the White House is not yet directly commented.
But the timing is notable. As we discussed earlier on the PDB, it comes amid mounting economic pressure inside Iran, where analysts say the US blockade has helped push the country's economy into what some describe as a quote, death spiral.
Marked by soaring inflation, a collapsing currency, and widespread shortages of basic goods. While more muted, it's worth noting that this economic strain is being felt globally as well.
The crisis in the state of Hormuz has disrupted a waterway that carries roughly 20% of the world's oil and gas, sending energy prices sharply higher, and raising fears of a broader economic downturn.
On Thursday, oil surged to a four-year high before pulling back slightly on news of Iran's latest proposal.
Meanwhile, on the military front, preparations appear to be continuing on all sides.
Iranian officials say they've activated air defenses, and are preparing for what they believe could be a short but intense round of US strikes, potentially followed by Israeli military action.
On the American side, President Trump is being briefed on a range of options, including the possibility of extending the blockade, or even deploying ground forces to seize control of parts of the state of Hormuz in order to reopen shipping lanes.
But the US is also quietly laying the groundwork for a post-conflict scenario, circulating plans for a multinational maritime coalition designed to ensure freedom of navigation through the strait.
So, on one hand, escalating threats, including unconventional tactics and warnings of attacks on US warships, on the other, are renewed if tentative push for negotiations, and all of it unfolding under a legal grey area back in Washington.
And now under the war powers resolution, the administration faced a 60-day deadline to either end hostilities or seek authorization from Congress.
But officials of the administration now argue that the April ceasefire effectively, quote, terminated hostilities for the purposes of that law, allowing the administration to sidestep that requirement, even as military pressure continues.
Coming up next, the longest partial government shutdown in US history has finally ended.
Hazaa, but key immigration agencies are still not funded, setting up a new battle in Congress. I'll be right back.
Hey, Mike Baker here. Let me take just a moment to talk about something very important for anyone who's on Medicare or about to sign up for Medicare.
Look here's the thing, when folks get Medicare guidance, they rarely consider this fact.
Agents get paid by big insurance to sell specific plans. It's just the way the business works.
So, that advice that you may be getting, it's not necessarily in your best interests.
It means you're often shown what they're paid to show you, not every option that's out there.
The result, when your doctor might not be covered or your prescriptions, could cost way more than they should.
And this problem is more common than you think, and those unnecessary costs, well they can add up quickly.
Here's what I think. You need someone with no skin in the game, and that is why I've partnered with chapter.
They're the only national advisor comparing every plan available.
Their advisors are salaried, so they have zero incentive to steer you in a particular direction. And get this, it's a free 20-minute call.
If you're turning 65 or you're already on Medicare, call chapter at 915-671-5252.
Again that number, 915-671-5252.
Hey Mike Baker here, now many of you know me as the host of the President's Daily Brief.
At least I hope that you know me as the host of the PDB, but I am also a business owner, have done for years.
So I want to take just a moment to talk with all of you business owners out there.
You probably already know this, but small businesses face an uphill battle with big banks, right?
We're getting a loan means endless paperwork and delays.
But I want to tell you about a business out there, working to make life easier for small businesses.
I'm talking about Cardiff.
For bank rates without the wait, go to cardiff.co slash PDB for up to $500,000 in funding.
Their application takes less than five minutes as no impact on personal credit and approvals can happen in minutes with same-day funding.
It's the fastest way to get the capital that you need to keep your business moving forward.
Look, banks try to lock out small businesses, but Cardiff has the key.
Big banks may not want to improve your business loans, but Cardiff does.
If you've been in business for at least a year and you're pulling in 20,000 a month in revenue, apply now for up to $500,000 in same-day business funding.
This funding at cardiff.co slash PDB.
Again, that's cardiff.co slash PDB.
Real growth, fast funding.
That's Cardiff.
Welcome back to the PDB afternoon bulletin.
We turn now to Washington, DC, where after a nearly 11-week fight over funding for the Department of Homeland Security,
the longest partial government shutdown in US history has finally come to an end.
On Thursday, President Trump signed into law a bipartisan funding bill that reopens most DHS operations,
including agencies like the Secret Service, TSA, FEMA, and the Coast Guard.
The legislation passed unanimously, and the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, after being unanimously approved by the Senate on 2 April.
Breaking the week's long stalemate, of course, that had left key parts of the Department operating under emergency funding.
Officials had recently warned that money was about to run out, raising concerns about disruptions at airports and broader national security risks,
and calls to break the deadlock only intensified after the attempted assassination of President Trump
at last Saturday's White House Correspondence Association dinner.
But while the shutdown is over, the core issue that caused it has not been resolved.
As we've been reporting, the standoff was never about the entire department.
It centered specifically on immigration enforcement, particularly ICE and the Border Patrol.
Democrats continue to push for new oversight measures on ICE and Border Patrol, including stricter rules on how agents operate in the field.
While Republicans argue those changes would undermine enforcement efforts at a time of heightened concern over border security.
And those agencies are still not funded under this new bill.
Instead, Republican leaders are now moving forward with a separate plan to provide roughly $70 billion in funding for those operations through the budget reconciliation process, allowing them to bypass Democrat opposition and pass the measure with a simple majority in the Senate.
That step appears to have been the breakthrough that unlocked the deal.
After weeks of resistance, House Conservatives agreed to move forward with the broader DHS funding bill now that the separate funding track for immigration enforcement is in place.
In effect, lawmakers ended the shutdown by splitting the issue in two, funding the rest of DHS immediately, while postponing the fight over immigration enforcement for another vote.
So, you ask after all that confusion, where do things stand?
Well, on Wednesday, House Republicans managed to pass the Senate's $70 billion budget blueprint for ICE and Border Patrol, which will allow congressional committees to begin writing separate funding legislation.
Republicans are aiming to pass that separate funding bill as soon as May, using reconciliation to move it through Congress without Democrat support.
But, as you might imagine, the path forward remains uncertain.
So, while the immediate crisis has been averted, with DHS now largely back up and running, the broader political and policy battle that triggered this shutdown is still very much alive.
And that, my friends, is the PDB afternoon bulletin for Friday, the first of May.
Now, if you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me at PDB at thefirsttv.com.
And to listen to the show Add Free, you can do that. It is very, very simple.
Just become a premium member of the President's Daily Brief by visiting PDB premium.com.
And, of course, it's Friday, the end of another week.
And, as a well-deserved reward, we have a brand new episode of our extended weekend show, the Situation Report.
It's filmed, edited, and in the can, ready to spool onto the film projector and beam out over the wonders of television and the Internet.
You can catch the latest episodes tonight at 10pm on the first TV.
And, of course, as always, on our YouTube channel, at President's Daily Brief, and podcast platforms everywhere.
We've got Heritage Foundation's Steve Yates, who was in attendance at the White House correspondents dinner the other night.
He'll be giving us a first-hand account from inside the ballroom.
Along with Defense Reporter extraordinaire Ruben Johnson.
Ruben has excellent insight into the current state of Russia, including growing anger and dissent regarding Putin's four-year-long invasion of Ukraine.
I'm Mike Baker, and I'll be back over the weekend with the PDB Situation Report.
Until then, stay informed. Stay safe. Stay cool.
Hey, Mike Baker here. We have an important message for every taxpayer out there.
Now, you know, we just finished tax season, right? But, of course, well, there's always next year. It never really ends, does it?
Now, we've all heard those radio ads about the IRS. You know the ones I'm talking about.
Plenty of ads, plenty of companies out there telling you to be afraid, and they try to frighten you into calling.
But I want to tell you about a company that's different. It's called Tax Relief Advocates, TRA.
If you owe money to the IRS, whether it's 5,000 or 50,000 or 500,000, I hope that's not the case,
TRA tax relief advocates as a solution to your tax problem.
TRA could reduce or even eliminate what you owe to the IRS.
Their passion is taxes and helping individuals and businesses fix their IRS problems.
They have over 1,000 five-star Google reviews and an A-plus rating from the Better Business Bureau.
Here's the truth. You do not need to be afraid of the IRS any longer.
Generous tax relief programs are now available that can give you a fresh start, so don't wait.
Simply visit tra.com. That's tra.com or call 800-583-6515.
Once again, that number is 800-583-6515.
Tax Relief Advocates, real solutions for real people.