The President's Daily Brief - January 16th, 2025: Israel, Hamas Reach Ceasefire Deal In Gaza & Biden's Parting Gift To Cuba Angers Democrats

Episode Date: January 16, 2025

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief:     We'll begin in the Middle East, where after 15-months of war, Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire deal that will pause fighting in Gaza and see the phased release of the hostages still being held in the battered enclave. Later in the show, an update on the Putin regime’s shadow war against the west, as Poland’s prime minister accuses Russia of planning terror attacks targeting global airlines. Plus, outgoing President Joe Biden stuns both Republicans and Democrats by lifting Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism. In our 'Back of the Brief' segment, we’ll have an update on the devastating wildfires burning around Los Angeles, as powerful winds returned Wednesday, jeopardizing efforts to contain the blazes. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some follow the noise. Bloomberg follows the money. Because behind every headline is a bottom line. Whether it's the funds fueling AI or crypto's trillion dollar swings, there's a money side to every story. And when you see the money side, you understand what others miss. Get the money side of the story. Subscribe now at Bloomberg.com. Hey, Mike Baker here. Still overseas on a trek through the vast desert, and it's a bit of the desert. is vast. Five riders, 10 camels, 700 miles, it's been an amazing experience, all to raise awareness for the U.K.'s Special Forces Benevolent Fund. While I'm out, Mike Slater is stepping in to deliver the President's Daily Brief. Thanks, Mike. It's Thursday, 16 January 2025. Welcome to the President's Daily Brief. I'm Mike Slater filling in from Mike Baker. Let's get briefed. Today, we begin in the Middle East. We're after 15 months of war and countless failed negotiations. Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire deal that will pause fighting in Gaza and see the phased release of the hostages still being held in the battered enclave.

Later in the show, an update on the Putin regime's shadow war against the West as Poland's prime minister accuses Russia of planning terror attacks targeting global airlines. Plus, outgoing President Joe Biden stuns both Republicans and Democrats by lifting Cuba's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism. And in today's back of the brief, we'll have an update. on the devastating wildfires burning around Los Angeles, as powerful winds returned Wednesday, jeopardizing efforts to contain the blazes. But first, today's PDB spotlight, a diplomatic breakthrough from the Middle East emerged on Wednesday as a ceasefire agreement to end the 15-month war between Israel and Hamas was finally achieved, mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and of course the United States. Cutter's prime minister heralded the accord, describing the hard-won agreement as a pivotal

first step towards peace. However, the first phase of the ceasefire must still clear procedural hurdles. According to the Hill, Israel's wartime cabinet will vote on the agreement, followed by Israel's parliamentary body, with appeals to the Supreme Court permitted within 24 hours. If finalized, the ceasefire could start as early as Friday with the first group of hostages released on Sunday. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office expressed optimism, signaling that although there are still some outstanding details in the framework, they're resolvable. In the initial six weeks of the three-phase agreement, Hamas will release 33 Israeli hostages, prioritizing women, children, the elderly, and the ill.

The hostages will be released incrementally, starting with three on the first day, followed by weekly releases until all 33 are freed. Israel believes the majority of these hostages are alive. President Joe Biden confirmed that American hostages would be among some of the first released during the initial six weeks. However, questions remain over which of the seven known hostages, three presumed alive, will be included. Hamas is also required to provide updates on the hostages status within the first week. According to NBC News, in exchange, Israel will release over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners not implicated in the 7 October

23 attacks. Also, under the, I just don't want to be clear about that. 33 Israelis for over a thousand Palestinians. Also under the first phase, Israeli forces will gradually withdraw from population centers. They will, however, remain in the Gaza-Egypt border known as the Philadelphia corridor and maintain a buffer zone inside Gaza. The dimensions of the buffer zone have yet to be determined. Humanitarian aid will flow into Gaza through the Rafa crossing, coordinated by Egypt, with hundreds of trucks expected to deliver relief daily to the 2.3 million residents, 90% of whom are displaced. The United Nations, the United Nations, pledged to scale up aid delivery during this period. In remarks from the White House, Biden credited

coordination with the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump, commending their shared commitment to the deal's success. Trump, who in previous weeks, had an unofficial deadline tied to his 20-January inauguration, praised the agreement on truth social, stating, quote, with this deal in place, my new national security team, through the efforts of special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Whitkoff, will continue to work closely with Israel and our allies to make sure Gaza never again becomes a terrorist safe haven. Negotiations for the second phase of the agreement are set to commence 16 days after the first phase is implemented. President Biden revealed this phase focuses on a permanent end to the war. In addition, this phase will see the release

of the remaining Israeli hostages and the complete withdrawal of Jerusalem's forces from the Gaza Strip. The third and final phase, again, this is all as it's written right now, all subject to change, will address repatriating deceased hostages and launching a comprehensive reconstruction plan for Gaza. This international initiative, led by the United Nations, will reportedly span three to five years and include the rebuilding of homes, infrastructure, and providing compensation for affected individuals. Egypt, Qatar, and the United States will oversee the agreement's implementation to ensure compliance. The agreement follows 411 days of intense negotiations and represents the first significant stopping of violence since a week-long truce that expired back in December of 2023.

While the ceasefire offers a glimmer of hope for regional stability, its success hinges on unwavering adherence to the accord. For now, the international community remains cautiously optimistic, recognizing that this fragile truce may serve as a foundation for enduring peace. Coming up next, Poland's prime minister accuses Russia of planning terrorist attacks, targeting global airlines, and President Joe Biden lifts Cuba's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism. All those stories when we get back. Make Mother's Day even more special at Whole Foods Market.

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filling in for Mike Baker. I want to turn to Eastern Europe, where Poland's leaders sounding the alarm on Russia's intensifying shadow war against Ukraine's Western allies. Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, accused Russia on Wednesday of planning acts of sabotage across the world,

including, quote, acts of airline terror. He leveled the bombshell accusation during a press conference alongside the Ukrainian president, Zelensky, saying the Kremlin is covertly working to destabilize European nations and stoke paranoia in order to drive a wedge between Kiev and the West. Tusk said, quote, I will not go into details. I can only confirm the validity of fears that Russia was planning acts of air terror, not only

against Poland, but against airlines around the world. While Tusk did not elaborate or point to a specific incident, he was likely in part referencing a plot by Russian agents first reported in early November to plant explosives aboard cargo planes bound for the U.S. and Canada. For some background here, back in July, two incendiary devices were shipped from Lithuania using the German logistics company, DHS. They later exploded at the DHS Logistics Hub in Germany and Birmingham, England, kicking off a massive multi-country investigation into the cause. The investigation led to the arrest of four suspects in Poland in October, who were accused

at being Russian agents and charged with sabotage or terrorist operations on behalf of a foreign intelligence agency. The Wall Street Journal subsequently reported that the events were part of a larger Russian plot, authorized by the Kremlin's military intelligence agency, known as the GRU. Western intelligence sources said the July incidents appeared to have been test runs, designed to figure out how to get such incendiary devices aboard planes bound for North America. In the test runs, they used electric massagers implanted with a magnesium-based flammable substance. Once the Russians learned how to bypass air cargo screenings, they reportedly planned to expand the operation, with the goal of igniting fires aboard cargo and passenger planes.

Moscow, of course, has repeatedly denied any involvement in the DHS hub explosions. That's not a surprise. We do know, however, that the Biden administration sent a warning to the Kremlin last summer, urging them to stop the operation during a mass casualty event should one of those packages explode in the air. The incident is just one example of the Putin regime's escalating belligerents as the war against Ukraine continues to grind on. Russia has been waging a campaign of sabotage against allies of Ukraine across Europe since the war began, with the attacks increasing in 2024. Russia's hybrid warfare tactics involve arson attacks, espionage, cyber attacks, targeted assassinations,

and the sabotage of critical infrastructure. It aims to spread panic among the European public and so doubts about supporting Ukraine. Recently, Russia has been accused of sabotaging European transport infrastructure on multiple occasions, jamming GPS signals used by airliners in several Baltic countries. Moscow is also suspected of being behind increased attacks on critical communication infrastructure, such as undersea fiber optic cables. Senior officials in Kiev have warned that Russia may soon escalate its hybrid warfare tactics beyond covert acts of sabotage and that NATO must do more to deter Moscow's belligerence

before it's too late. Shifting gears, outgoing President Joe Biden may be headed for retirement come Monday, but his final days in office are proving to be intensely controversial among both Republicans and Democrats. Biden left supporters and critics in shock on Tuesday as he abruptly lifted Cuba's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism less than a week before he set to exit the Oval Office. The move drew bipartisan condemnation, as it undoes a host of long-standing sanctions aimed at Havana's communist government. Additionally, the Biden administration said they would be suspending a provision of the Helms-Burton Act,

which allows Cuban exiles in the U.S. to file claims against Havana and seek financial compensation over seized assets. Officials in the White House defended the decision, saying the conciliatory actions were made in deference to the Catholic Church, which has been negotiating the release of hundreds of political prisoners that remain in Cuban custody. They also claim that Cuba has not provided any support for international terrorism over the past six months, which they apparently feel is enough justification to remove Cuba from the terror sponsor list. Shortly after the White House announcement, Cuba's president said his government would gradually begin releasing 553 prisoners held on the island, though he said this was due to successful talks with leaders from the Vatican,

not because of the Biden administration. In fact, Cuban officials criticized President Biden's actions, as, quote, too little, too late. If President Biden was hoping to win praise for the American left, he was also gravely mistaken, the move's not sitting well with many from President Biden's own party, particularly Democrats in Florida, a state that hosts a large population of Cuban exiles.

Sources close to Florida Democratic Party chair, Nikki Fried, told Axios that she was blindsided and enraged. by President Biden's decision. The Florida Democratic Party subsequently released a statement condemning the action and imploring the White House to reverse course. Politically, they fear it will further alienate Latino voters in the state who have already been increasingly voting Republican in recent years. They make up to 19% of voters in Florida and are wary of Democrats espousing views

that they see as sympathetic to the socialist regimes. Many of them fled. Representative Jared Moskowitz, a moderate Florida Democrat, told Axios that President Biden was, quote, literally sinking. the Democratic Party in the state of Florida. He added, quote, Florida's a red state, and Biden just waived the white flag of surrender. Now with President-elect Donald Trump set to be sworn into office on Monday, many expect him to simply reverse the Biden administration's decision and reimpose the existing sanctions. But a spokesman for Trump said the incoming administration would likely

respond by imposing more aggressive sanctions, quote, with broader effects than last time. We should note the decision came on the eve of Florida Senator Marco Rubio's first confirmation hearing to be U.S. Secretary of State. Rubio, a Cuban-American, who helped write Trump's Cuba sanctions in 2017, condemned the action during the hearing on Wednesday. He noted Cuba's ties to Iran and Venezuela, their support of guerrilla terrorist groups in South America, and friendly relations with Hamas and Hezbollah. Rubia stated at the confirmation hearing, quote, nothing that the Biden administration has agreed to in the last 12 or 18 hours binds the next administration, which starts on Monday.

Coming up on the back of the brief, an update on the devastating wildfires burning around Los Angeles where dangerously windy weather is complicating efforts to bring the blazes under control. Still, more on that when we come back. Hannity presents in the red corner the undisputed, undefeated weed whacker guys. Champion of hurling grass and pollen everywhere. And in the blue corner, the challenger, extra strength, Hannity. Eye drops and work all day to prevent the release of histamines that cause itchy allergy eyes. And the winner by knockout is Padity!

Padity! Bring it on. I'm Mike Slater filling in for Mike Baker, and today's back of the brief thousands of Southern Californians remain on edge. As powerful winds returned Wednesday, threatening to fuel the wildfires that have claimed at least 25 lives and reduced more than 12,000 structures to ash. The National Weather Service issued dire red flag warnings across Los Angeles County, calling the conditions, quote, a particularly dangerous situation.

That's actually a higher rating than a red flag warning. It's yellow flag, orange flag, red flag, and they almost never issue the next flag. It's actually a purple flag. A particularly dangerous situation. That's what it's officially called. This is when the humidity is especially low and sustained winds are over 30 miles per hour. gusts yesterday reached 55 miles per hour. Some residents face the harrowing prospect of immediate evacuation orders still.

As of now, more than 82,000 residents remained under evacuation orders, while 94,000 fall under the umbrella of evacuation warnings. It means get ready to go. Not to mention the horrible air quality right now of fires that have burned for a week. Despite the weather challenges, there was a glimmer of progress on Tuesday. Firefighters seized a brief reprieve from the relentless winds. and managed to contain nearly half of the Eaton fire north of Los Angeles near Pasadena, and in circle one-fifth of the Palisades Fire,

which has left the affluent Pacific Palisade neighborhoods and ruins. The fires, which ignited just over a week ago, rank among California's most catastrophic. The Eaton and Palisades Infernoes became the second and fourth most destructive blazes in state history. The fires, fanned by fierce winds that carried embers across the county, have consumed more than 63 square miles, an area three times the size of Manhattan, leaving the drought-stricken terrain scorched and unrecognizable.

In a testament to the scale of the crisis, fire crews bolstered by reinforcements from nine states, Canada and Mexico, working around the clock to safeguard the next high-risk neighborhoods. Despite the challenges posed by the winds, aerial operations persist, with planes dousing hillsides and homes and blankets of flame-retardant chemicals. You'll see some pictures of really nice or celebrity homes covered in this pink paint, this film. That's the flame-retardant chemicals. Meanwhile, the L.A. County Sheriff's Department has arrested about 50 individuals for crimes ranging from looting to arson, including three suspects who were caught attempting to set fires in areas already ravaged by wildfires. The causes of the major blazes, however, remain undetermined. One of the men who was arrested with a blowtorch in his hand turned out to be an illegal immigrant from Mexico. He was arrested and kept on violating his probation. So he's already been arrested before. While the Eaton and Palisades fires have shown minimal spread this week despite the red fly condition, fire officials cautioned that the situation remains perilous.

Firefighters and state officials are holding out hope that improved weather conditions forecast for Friday and Saturday could bring a measure of relief to the region and its residents. That is the President's Daily Brief for Thursday, 16 January. To listen to the show ad-free, you can become a premium member of the President's Daily Brief by visiting pdbpremium.com. I'm Mike Slater from the podcast Politics by Faith and host of the morning show on Sirius XM Patriot.

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