The President's Daily Brief - August 28th, 2025: Ukraine Reveals ‘Game Changing’ Cruise Missile & Israel Expands Hospital Inquiry

Episode Date: August 28, 2025

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: Ukraine unveils a new domestically built cruise missile, the “Flamingo,” which could reshape the battlefield and Kyiv’s long-term security. The IDF expands its investigation into the deadly strike on Nasser Hospital, raising questions about who approved the tank fire. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick reveals that Pentagon officials are considering whether the U.S. should take equity stakes in defense giants like Lockheed Martin. And in today’s Back of the Brief—a tragic shooting at a Catholic school in Minneapolis leaves multiple victims. 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 TriTails Premium Beef: Don’t Settle for shrink-wrapped "steak" Visit https://trybeef.com/PDB to get the real stuff.Birch Gold: Text PDB to 989898 and get your free info kit on goldCBDistillery: Visit https://CBDistillery.com and use promo code PDB for 25% off your entire order! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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They're the precious metals specialists. Just text PDB to the number 989-89-89, and you'll receive a free, no-obligation information kit, and you'll learn how to convert an existing IRA or a 401k to a gold IRA. Just text PDB to the number 989-89-898. It's Thursday, the 28th of August. Welcome to the President's Daily Brief. I'm Mike Baker. your eyes and ears on the world stage,

coming to you from some undisclosed airport lounge somewhere. Let's get briefed. First up, Ukraine has unveiled a new weapon, one that could change the course of the war, possibly. It's called a flamingo, a cruise missile built at home. We'll tell you why that could change both the battlefield and Ukraine's future security. Later in the show, the IDF, the Israeli Defense Force,

expands its probe into the Nassar Hospital's strike, raising new questions about the chain of command. Plus, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik says top Pentagon officials are seriously debating whether the U.S. government should become a shareholder in America's biggest defense companies. Because, well, if any entity is the picture of efficiency and budget discipline and nimbleness, well, it would be the U.S. government. So why not give it the opportunity to help run commercial businesses? And in today's back of the brief, we'll have the details on the shooting

at a Catholic school in Minneapolis, another school shooting. But first, today's PDB spotlight. I want to start today with a story that flew under the radar but has massive implications for the war in Ukraine. Kiev has just unveiled a weapon that could change the direction of its fight with Russia. It's called the FP5, nicknamed the Flamingo, because every weapon needs a cool nickname. It's Ukraine's first domestically built long-range cruise missile, with the ability to hit targets nearly 1900 miles away, putting it deep inside Russian territory.

President Zelensky announced last week that the Flamingo has passed successful testing and will enter mass production this winter. The missile is built by the Ukrainian defense startup Firepoint. It carries a warhead, weighing more than a ton, and strikes with enough force to punch through hardened targets before detonating. For comparison, that's about twice the payload of a U.S. Tomahawk cruise missile, and with nearly double the range, putting almost all of Russia's critical infrastructure within reach. Ukrainian officials say production is already underway at one missile per day, with plans to ramp up to seven per day by October, meaning Kiv could be cranking out as many as 2,500 missiles a year if my math is somewhat correct. An interesting note about the nickname. Early prototypes

reportedly came off the assembly line painted pink due to a manufacturing mishap, thereby earning the nickname Flamingo. But while the name of the weapon might not strike fear into the hearts of Ukraine's enemies, it does represent a serious shift in Ukraine's military capability. This is the first time that Kiev has been able to field a domestically produced strategic range missile of this scale. Now, before I explain why this is potentially such a big deal, it's worth noting that talk of game-changing weapons should always be met with a bit of skepticism. History is full of so-called miracle weapons that promised to turn the tide of war but fell short. But in this case, Ukraine's flamingo stands out, not just because of its range and payload, but because it's one of the

first strategic systems that Kiev can produce and deploy entirely on its own terms. It frees Ukraine from the political strings attached to Western supplied weapons. Washington has restricted the use of American attack against targets inside Russia, and Germany has resisted sending its tourist missiles, citing fears of escalation. The Flamingo doesn't have those limitations. Keeve can decide, on its own, how and when to deploy it. The autonomy is strategically significant, because it means Russia can no longer count on Washington or Berlin or the U.K.

to act as a break on Ukraine's long-range strike capability. Second, the Flamingo is a game changer in terms of sheer destructive power. Military analysts point out that its combination of speed, weight, and payload make it far deadlier than the drones and smaller cruise missiles. Ukraine has largely relied on up to this point. Even if Keev produced only 30 to 50 a month, experts say the stockpile would have, quote, tangible effects on the war,

allowing Ukraine to strike at fuel depots, air bases, and command notes that sustain Russia's invasion. But the impact goes beyond the current battlefield. The Flamingo could transform Ukraine's long-term security. If Keeve eventually fields several thousand of these weapons, it could put at risk a quarter of Russia's economic output by threatening refineries and power plants, factories, and transport hubs concentrated around Moscow and other industrial regions. The logic is simple. If Ukraine can credibly threaten to cripple Russia's

economy within days, it creates a deterrent, powerful enough to make future aggression far less likely. So, one could argue, the Flamingo is not just about winning today's war, it's about shaping tomorrow's peace. Of course, questions remain. Russia has invested heavily in layered air defecutive, The effectiveness of the Flamingo will depend on how well Ukrainian intelligence can map those defenses and exploit gaps. Success will also hinge on whether Keev can actually meet its ambitious production targets, a tall order for a country fighting a war and sustaining constant bombardment of its industrial base. Still, the unveiling of the Flamingo marks a milestone. It shows that after three and a half years, a full-scale war,

Ukraine's defense industry is not only surviving, it's innovating and a devastating. adapting, and it signals to Moscow and to Keeves' allies that Ukraine still intends to chart its own course in this war. All right, coming up after the break, the IDF expands its probe into the Nassar hospital strike, and the Pentagon debates taking equity stakes in America's biggest defense contractors. I'll be right back. Hey, Mike Baker here. Let me take just a moment of your time to talk about protecting your hard-earned assets.

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say Hamas had installed a surveillance camera on the medical plaza's grounds, setting off the chain of events that ended in the fatal strikes. According to the ongoing investigation, Israeli troops from the Golani Brigade identified the camera, believed it to be monitoring IDF movements. Israel's Southern Command authorized a drone strike to destroy it, But moments later, infantrymen spotted what they thought was a rifle scope near the camera and deemed it an immediate threat, urgently seeking approval to fire. While the Israeli Division Commander approved tank fire, Southern Command had not.

Four shells were ultimately fired, two of them hitting as rescuers rushed to aid those wounded in the initial blast. Footage from the scene posted by Reuters shows medics and civilians engulfed in smoke and their faces covered in blood. The number of casualties in the tank strike remains disputed. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry put the toll at more than 20, including several journalists, though that figure has not been independently verified. Israel's Channel 12, citing military sources, report 18 were killed, among them 10 Hamas operatives, though the IDF has so far only confirmed six terrorists among the dead, including one who took part in the 7 October 23 terror attacks.

As we previously discussed, the dead also included a Reuters cameraman, an Associated Press freelancer, and an Al Jazeera contributor, killed when the tank fire destroyed a hospital balcony that had long been used by journalists as a vantage point of the city, in what's being called one of the deadliest attacks on international media since the war began. IDF Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General A.L. Amir has ordered the probe to be expanded to scrutinize the timing of the strike the munitions used and above all who authorized the tank fire. Military spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani, told Reuters, quote, we can confirm that the journalists were not a target of the strike. Israeli Prime Minister of Netanyahu's office described the incident as a, quote, tragic mishap and said Israel, quote, deeply regrets the deaths of innocence. Despite the probe, Hamas rejected Israel's findings outright, insisting none of its operatives were killed at the hospital. The Iran-backed terror group's media wing claimed Jerusalem fabricated evidence stating that two of the six men, Israel identified as terrorists, had been killed elsewhere. As we mentioned earlier this week, the strike drew sharp international condemnation and continues to do so. The European Union's diplomatic service calls the strike, quote, completely unacceptable and stressed Israel's obligation.

to protect civilians and journalists under international law, warning, quote, there have been too many fatalities in this conflict. The UN Secretary General also denounced the strike, while the Committee to Protect Journalists said that prior to the incident, the war's death toll among media workers was at least 192. As our regular listeners know, hospitals in the Strip have become flashpoints in the 22-month war. The IDF has repeatedly accused Hamas of using both Nasser and Shifa hospitals

to shelter terrorists, conceal command centers, and even hold hostages, claims backed by testimony from now-released captives. Okay, turning to the U.S., the Trump administration appears to be looking to completely overhaul the relationship between the U.S. government and America's military industrial base. In an interview with CNBC on Tuesday, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik said top officials of the Pentagon are, quote, thinking about taking equity stakes in leading private U.S. defense contracting companies like Lockheed Martin and Palantir. The revelation came just days after the Trump administration acquired 10% of Intel stock in a highly controversial deal valued at roughly $9 billion,

arguing it was needed to boost domestic semiconductor manufacturing and strengthen national security. When asked about whether the administration was eyeing similar moves with other companies that do major business with the U.S. government, Lutnik said their sights were set squarely on the U.S. defense industry. Lutnik told CNBC, quote, there's a monstrous discussion about defense. I mean, Lockheed Martin makes 97% of their revenue from the U.S. government. They are basically an arm of the U.S. government. But what's the economics of that?

I'm going to leave that to my Secretary of Defense and this Deputy Secretary of Defense. These guys are on it, and they're thinking about it, end quote. Just a thought, but perhaps the Commerce Secretary shouldn't leave the economics of it to the folks running the Defense Department. Maybe that's better left to, I don't know, how about the Commerce Department? Essentially, Lutnik argued that U.S. defense contractors have been disproportionately benefiting from their lucrative relationship with the Pentagon, and that the U.S. government and taxpayers should be yielding some kind of gain from such partnerships.

He described the current system as a, quote, giveaway by the government to Titans in the Defense sector, suggesting the White House wants to fundamentally change the way the Pentagon unappropriations are handled. Lutnik said, quote, why shouldn't the U.S. government say, you know what, we use Palantir services, we would like a piece of Palantir. We use Boeing services, we would like a piece of Boeing. Hmm, Chairman Mao approves. He added, quote, there's a lot of talking that needs to be had about how we finance our

munitions acquisitions, end quote. As I mentioned, the remarks are just the latest example of the White House's strategy to aggressively intervene in the private sector, at least, when he comes to companies viewed as critical to the U.S. economy and maintaining America's strategic technological edge on the international stage. The move to acquire a 10% stake in chipmaker Intel, which was seen as lagging behind overseas competitors, followed the White House's intervention in June to help complete the purchase of U.S. steel by Japan's Nippon Steel. In that deal, Trump said he secured a golden share that gives Washington say over its operations. In theory,

to address national security concerns regarding the purchase. That's according to our report for moiders. In July, the U.S. government also acquired a 15% stake in the Rare Earth's company MP Materials, and earlier this month, brokered a deal with chipmakers and Vidia and AMD to take 15% of all revenues from sales of their chips in China, which were previously banned. Trump said Monday that the government will continue to seek investments in U.S. companies where there's a benefit to America's strategic long-term interests. But the moves have triggered major criticisms from free market proponents,

who see it as a pivot away from capitalism towards a state-engaged economy. Indeed, the Intel deal found Trump aligned with some unexpected voices on the left. U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders threw his support behind the intervention, uh-oh, saying, quote, if microchip companies make a profit from the generous grants they receive from the federal government, the taxpayers of America have a right to a reasonable return on that investment. Here's a business tip. If Bernie Sanders thinks your business move is great, you might be venturing into Democratic Socialist territory. Meanwhile, Republican Senator Rand Paul called the Intel deal a, quote, terrible idea,

saying, quote, if socialism is government owning the means of production, wouldn't the government owning part of Intel be a step towards socialism, end quote. Other critics of the moves warned that they could incentivize the government to put the financial success of these companies ahead of more important strategic considerations. Now, when he comes to defense contractors like Lockheed Martin, they warn this could have disastrous downstream effects on America's national security interests. Essentially, the fear is the government starts playing a heavy-handed role in picking winners and losers. The government is privy to massive amounts of economic intelligence and information that, if used, to benefit one

company over another because the government holds an interest in that favored company, well, that is solidly veering into a very complex minefield. But Lutnik gave a full-throated defense of President Trump's controversial strategy, arguing, quote, if we are adding fundamental value to your business, I think it's fair for President Trump to think about the American people, end quote. So I wonder if the American people get to sit in on the board meetings and vote as shareholders, or maybe they get dividends. or maybe I'm just being my usual churlish self.

Okay, coming up next in the back of the brief. Tragedy at a Catholic school in Minneapolis, a school shooting shatters the start of the new school year. More on that when we come back. Hey, Mike Baker here. Now, you've probably noticed on the calendar that Labor Day is fast approaching. And Labor Day is that one interesting American holiday where we celebrate hard work by not working.

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Minneapolis Catholic school on Wednesday morning when a gunman opened fire on students attending a mass on their third day of school, killing two children and wounding at least 17 others. The shooting occurred at the Annunciation Church and Catholic School in South Minneapolis at around 8.30 a.m. on Wednesday morning, when the shooter fired dozens of rounds through the school's chapel windows at students sitting in pews before taking his own life. Authorities said the children killed were 8 years old and 10 years old. The shooter reportedly used a rifle, a shotgun, and a pistol to carry out the killings and had barricaded at least two of the chapel doors from the outside using 2x4 planks. As of Wednesday afternoon,

local hospitals said they were treating 14 children and 2 adults for gunshot wounds. Two reportedly remain in critical condition. FBI Director Cash Patel said the case was being investigated as an act of domestic terrorism and a hate crime targeting Catholics, according to our report from Reuters. Authorities have not yet released a motive for the shooting, but Patel identified the killer as 23-year-old Robin Westman. According to court records, Westman changed his name in 2020 from Robert to Robin on the grounds that he identified as a female.

While all the facts are still coming in, law enforcement sources told the New York Post, they're investigating a series of disturbing videos posted by Westman. on YouTube in the hours before the massacre. The videos are a descent into what appears to be utter madness, showcasing the profoundly psychotic mind of the killer, detailing his deep obsession with mass shooters and fantasies about killing children. According to the New York Post, in one 20-minute video, a person believed to be Westman flips through a handwritten journal

that's nothing short of, well, deranged. He confesses his admiration for Adam Lanza, who carried out the 2012 Sandy Hook Massacre that left 20, 20 first grade students and six adults dead, calling it his quote, favorite. He also details his decision to target the Annunciation Church, where his mother reportedly worked until her retirement in 2021. According to the post, a second video showcased a cash of weapons, including a semi-automatic rifle and a shotgun, which were covered in writing.

Magazines were scrawled with statements like, For the Children, killed Donald Trump, and six million wasn't enough, a reference, of course, to the Holocaust. Authorities said the shooter did not have an extensive criminal history. Law enforcement found a smoke bomb at the scene and were also searching what is believed to be the shooter's car for more evidence. The United States Church and Catholic school is a private elementary school, with roughly 395 students covering preschool through eighth grade. The school year had only just begun on Monday.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara told reporters Wednesday, quote, this was a deliberate act of violence against innocent children and other people worshiping. The sheer cruelty and cowardice of firing into a church full of children is absolutely incomprehensible, end quote. Well, he's absolutely right. And that, my friends, is the President's Daily Brief for Thursday, the 28th of August. 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, just become a premium member of the president's daily brief by visiting pdb premium.com. I'm Mike Baker. Now, I'll be back later today with the BDB afternoon bulletin. Until then, stay informed. Stay safe. Stay cool.

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