The President's Daily Brief - April 29th, 2024: Last Chance for a Ceasefire, Ukraine’s Windfall, & Navalny Doubts

Episode Date: April 29, 2024

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: Israel tightens the noose on Hamas with a final offer for hostage negotiations amid the impending Rafah offensive. We scrutinize the eleventh-hour efforts for peace before the onset of military action. Ukraine's defense buckles under the Russian onslaught, prompting the U.S. to unveil a colossal $6 billion military aid package, a direct investment into American-made armaments. A US intelligence assessment is casting doubt on reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin directly ordered the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny—an assessment that’s being disputed by the Kremlin itself. Our 'Back of the Brief' segment tracks the surge in anti-Israel protests, leading to over 200 arrests on U.S. college campuses. 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. Email: [e-mail] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Get up to 40% off at shopbeam.com slash PDB and use code PDB. It's Monday, 29 April. Welcome to the President's Daily Brief. I'm Mike Baker. Your eyes and ears on the world's stuff. stage. Let's get briefed. With the offensive in Rafah looming, Israel is offering Hamas one last chance to reach a hostage deal. We'll examine the last-ditch effort by officials to come to a truce

before Israel launches its long-delayed assault. Later in the show, as the armed forces of Ukraine continue to feel the full weight of the Russian offensive, the Pentagon has announced its largest ever military aid package. It's approximately six. billion dollars to purchase military hardware directly from American defense companies. Plus, a U.S. intelligence assessment is casting doubt on reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin directly ordered the death of opposition leader Alexi Navalny. And it's an assessment that's being disputed by, of all folks, Kremlin leaders. Now, whether or not Putin issued instructions at a specific time to terminate Navalny, the only assessment that matters, that

matters is that, without a doubt, Navalny is dead because of Putin. And in today's back of the brief, we'll bring you the latest developments from the anti-Israel protests. Over 200 individuals have been arrested on college campuses nationwide this past weekend. But first, today's PDB spotlight. With preparations completed for the Israeli Defense Forces long-awaited offensive in southern Gaza, Israeli officials are offering Hamas one last chance to reach a hostage deal before launching an operation into Rafa. According to Israeli officials, a delegation of Egyptian intelligence officials visited Israel on Friday and conducted talks with representatives of the Shinbet, IDF, and Mossad about the potential

hostage deal. Axios reports that the proposal currently on the table would see the release of 40 hostages in return for six weeks of ceasefire and the release of roughly 900 Palestinian-Bristian The 40 hostages include women and female soldiers, men over the age of 50, and male hostages in poor medical condition who would be released on humanitarian grounds. While we've been down this road a number of times before, there does appear to be some optimism, at least on the Israeli side. A senior Israeli official told the Hebrew media that the talks were, quote, very good, focused, held in good spirits, and progressed in all parameters, end quote.

Israeli officials also reportedly told the Egyptian delegation that they are serious about preparations for the operation in Rafah and that they will not let Hamas, quote, drag its feet this time around. Hamas is pushing back, claiming once again that it doesn't have enough hostages that fit Israel's criteria. While Israel is demanding 40 humanitarian hostages, the terror group says there are only about 20. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is scheduled to visit the region this week to take part in the ongoing efforts. Now, the impending Rafa operation is being used as pressure against Hamas, but the terror group has been applying its own form of pressure over the past week with the release of several Proof-of-Life videos. The first was released on Wednesday and featured 24-year-old

Israeli-American Hirsch Goldberg, Poland. He was captured more than 200 days ago at this point at the Nova Music Festival. In the video, the young man delivers a number of insults at Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu for failing to secure a deal for the remaining hostages release. Now, mind you, he's a hostage himself. He's currently under duress, and he was likely instructed on what to say. In addition, Goldberg-Poland is missing his left hand now, due to an injury he sustained either during his capture or his captivity. Another video was also released of 64-year-old American hostage Keith Siegel, a native of Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Siegel was kidnapped on October 7th from Kibbutz Kfarazah. In the video, a gaunt and exhausted-looking Siegel says, quote,

we are in danger here, there are explosions, it's stressful and frightening, and it's been going on for a very long time, end quote. Siegel's wife, Aviva, was among dozens of hostages freed back in November as part of a week-long ceasefire agreement between Fumas and Israel. All right, coming up after the break, the Pentagon rolls out its most substantial military aid package to Ukraine yet, $6 billion, earmarked for purchasing equipment from U.S. defense contractors. Plus, a U.S. intelligence assessment questions claims of Putin's involvement in the death of opposition leader Alexi Navalny, a report that the Kremlin is actively

challenging. Correct. The Kremlin seems irritated that Putin isn't getting credit for Navalny's death. I'll be right back. Kayak gets my flight, hotel, and rental car right, so I can tune out travel advice that's just plain wrong. Sky coin, way better than points. Never fly during a Scorpio full moon. Just tell the manager you'll sue. Instant room upgrade.

Stop taking bad travel advice. Start comparing hundreds of sites with kayak and get your trip right. Kayak, got that right. Welcome back. The windfall appears to be continuing for Ukraine. Just days after announcing the first billion dollar tranche of aid for the Ukrainian military, the Pentagon announced its single big. package for the embattled nation to date, totaling over $6 billion. According to the Department

of Defense, it will include much-needed equipment to boost Ukraine's air defenses like radars and additional munitions for Patriot Air Defense Systems. It's also said to include surface-to-air missiles, artillery rounds, and additional ammunition for high-mobility artillery rocket systems, known as Heimars. Now, unlike the billion-dollar aid package announced last Wednesday, which will draw from weapons and ammunition from existing U.S. military stockpiles, the new gear is going to take some time to make its way to the battlefield. This latest package falls under what's called the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which allows Ukraine to purchase hardware directly from U.S. defense contractors, like Lockheed Martin or Raytheon. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin

told reporters at the Pentagon, quote, you can rest assured that we're going to move as fast as we can to get them the capability as fast as industry can produce, but we will have to move at the speed of industry." Austin added that some of the new funds will go to help build up Ukraine's own defense industry so that it can produce more of the ammunition Kiev needs in its war with Russia domestically. Meanwhile, in the face of the Russian onslaught, the situation on the ground, while it continues to deteriorate for Ukraine, many of the weapons promised by the U.S. have yet to make it to the front, and the Ukrainian military continues to struggle with a shortage of

ammunition, manpower, and air defenses. Amidst heavy combat in eastern Ukraine, Ukrainian forces have been compelled to retreat from their positions as Russian troops continue to push forward along the front. Ukraine's military leadership, led by Commander-in-Chief Oksandr Siersky, acknowledged that their forces had repositioned in the Denezk region after a rough couple of weeks. In a post on telegram on Sunday, General Siersky said the situation at the front has worsened. However, Siersky added that while Moscow has made some tactical gains in the east, they had not managed to secure any significant operational leverage. All right, moving from the Eastern Front in Ukraine, over to Moscow. It's been a little over two months since the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

The circumstances under which he died remain somewhat mysterious. Yeah, possibly, but you could also say not that mysterious. But according to a report in the Wall Street Journal, U.S. intelligence agencies have determined that Russian President Vladimir Putin didn't order Navalny's death. Let me just repeat that. According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, U.S. intelligence agencies have determined that Russian President Putin didn't order Navalny's death. Hmm, sounds like we're mincing words here.

If you'll remember, back in February, Navalny died at the Arctic Polar Wolf prison colony, where he'd been serving a 19-year sentence on charges of extremism. And extremism in Russia is whatever Putin says it is. According to Russian prison services, the 47-year-old collapsed and lost consciousness after a walk. He went for a walk in the Arctic prison. Russian officials have maintained that Navalny died of natural causes. Oh, the journal reports that the intelligence assessment was based, on a number of factors, including some classified intelligence, and an analysis of public facts,

such as the timing of his death and how it overshadowed President Putin's landslide re-election back in March. European intelligence officials are skeptical of the U.S. assessment. According to security officials from several European nations who spoke to the journal, they find it doubtful that harm could have come to Navalny without the president's prior awareness in a system as tightly controlled as Putin's Russian. Of course, the assessment is being rejected by those close to Navalny, most of whom continue to insist that the death was orchestrated by Putin.

In a statement, Leonid Volkov, a longtime ally, called the idea naive. Volkov said, quote, those who assert that Putin wasn't aware clearly do not understand anything about how modern-day Russia runs. The idea of Putin not being informed and not approving the killing of Navalny is ridiculous, end quote. Now, you would think that the Kremlin would see this as some sort of vindication. I mean, they've been fighting back against calls for an international investigation of Navalny's death and have denied any involvement whatsoever. We don't know. We have no idea what happened. Instead, well, oddly, they're pushing back against the findings. A spokesman for President Putin,

Dmitu Pesco, told Russia's state-run media on Saturday, quote, I would not say that this is high-quality material that deserves any attention. He added that the report was likely full of, quote, some very empty reasoning, end quote. Well, okay. So, you may not have asked for it, but here's my assessment of Navalny's death. Putin is responsible. Now, whether he issued instructions to have him terminated at that particular time or not, Putin wanted him to go away.

He wanted him silenced. That's, well, that's a statement of the obvious. Now, it doesn't matter whether Putin called the Polar Wolf Prison Warden in February and said, Kill Him Now. Navalny is dead because of Putin. So, anything else is simply wordsmithing. Coming up in the back of the brief, the latest from the anti-Israel protests, as arrests top 200 on college campuses around the country this weekend.

Now, no word yet on whether any of the 200 arrested can spell the word in defada. More on that when we come back. In today's back of the brief, it was a busy weekend for law enforcement as more than 200 anti-Israel protesters were arrested on college campuses across the United States. According to reports, at least 100 students were arrested at Northeastern University in Boston on Saturday, and at least 69 at Arizona State University in Tempe, with police clearing unauthorized encampments on university property. Arrests were also made at Indiana University.

University in Bloomington and Washington University in St. Louis. At California Polytechnic University in Humboldt, the administration has announced that its campus will remain closed for the rest of the semester due to the ongoing protests and the occupation and vandalism of several campus facilities. A way to stand up to the protesters, California Polytechnic University in Humboldt. Now, last week, a group of 45 protesters at that school barricaded themselves inside one of the buildings. Law enforcement was eventually called in, and after a prolonged standoff, at least three protesters were arrested. Meanwhile, at Columbia University in Manhattan, where it basically all began, negotiations remain ongoing between student protesters and university officials. Despite

deadlines for vacating the premises, hundreds of protesters remain on the school's west lawn. Many students said that they will not leave the lawn until the school complies with demands to cut ties with Israeli-linked companies. Hundreds of pro-Israel counter-protesters have also gathered around Columbia University in an effort to show support for the school's Jewish students. Now, in some positive news, Columbia University has announced that it has banned at least one student protest leader from campus. Well, way to show some Cajones, Columbia University.

According to a spokesman for the school, Kamani James, a junior at Columbia, and a self-described spokesperson for the pro-Balmers, Palestinian encampment there. That's going to look good in your CV, Kamani. It was banned. He was banned after a video surfaced in which he declared, quote, Zionists don't deserve to live. Hmm, end quote, during a January meeting with school administrators. School administrators then probably spent some time debating whether saying Zionists don't deserve to live contradicts Columbia's Code of Conduct. Now, Kamani James, who uses he, she, and they pronouns. Well, look at that, Kamani has the entire spectrum covered.

Well, he, she, and they apologized for wishing death on Zionists, but, you know, once a Nazi, always a Nazi. And that, my friends, is the president's daily brief from Monday, 29 April. If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me at pdb at thefirsttv.com. And to listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of the president's daily brief by visiting PDB premium.com. I'm Mike Baker. I'll be back later today with the PDB afternoon bulletin. Until then, stay informed, stay safe, stay cool.