The President's Daily Brief - January 5th, 2023. China is Engineering Vaccine Injecting... Mosquitos

Episode Date: January 5, 2023

It’s January 5th. You’re listening to the President’s Daily Brief. Your morning intel starts now. ------ A good day to you, ladies and gentlemen. I’ve got four briefs for you this morning that are shaping America — and the world. First, an update on the Drone Wars in Ukraine. Turns out that American-made electronics are helping those Russian drones attack Ukrainian targets. Second, China has created mosquitos that inject vaccines into unsuspecting patients. Oh boy. I’ll explain that science experiment. Third, there’s a new wind farm slated to be installed off the coast of Rhode Island, even though government scientists warned that it shouldn’t happen. Fourth, the US Congress just saved a group of dolphins from being fired from the US Navy. Yes, dolphins. We employ them.  Later, we close out the podcast with my thoughts on the fight in Washington DC over the Speaker of the House. ------ 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

It's January 5th. You're listening to the President's Daily Brief. I'm your host and former CIA Officer Brian Dean Wright. Your morning intel starts now. A good day to you, ladies and gentlemen. I've got four briefs for you this morning that are shaping America and the world. First, an update on the drone wars in Ukraine. Turns out that American-made electronics are helping those Russian drones attack Ukrainian targets. Second, China has created mosquitoes that inject vaccines, into unsuspecting patients. Oh boy. I'll explain that science experiment. Third, there's a new wind farm slated to be installed off the coast of Rhode Island, even though U.S. government scientists have warned that it should not happen. Fourth, the U.S. Congress just saved a group of dolphins from being

fired from the U.S. Navy. Yeah, dolphins. We employ them. Later, we close out the podcast with my thoughts on the fight in Washington, D.C. over the Speaker of the House. But before we get to that, we got to get started with this. American companies are in some hot water this morning as their products are ending up in Iranian drones. So those drones are then being purchased by Russia and blowing up Ukrainian targets. So here's what we know about this development, going back a couple of months to refresh our memories. As Russia was facing setbacks in eastern Ukraine this past fall, they purchased a new type of drone from the Iranian government called the Shahid. I briefed you on that on October 18th in detail, but to recap, they're not especially fancy drones. They're loud and clunky

and relatively simple as compared to America's very high-tech drones like the predator. Still, they are very deadly, even with their mostly low-tech design. The Russians have used substantial numbers of these things, probably over a thousand at this point, in sort of kamikaze-like suicide admissions. Well, as those drones have blown up or have been shot down, what Ukrainian intelligence has found is that these things only fly with very important technology from companies in the United States, technology like computer chips and GPS modules and even small engines. Well, as you might expect, that is not supposed to happen. Iran has been sanctioned from buying this stuff since at least 2008. And yet, when the Ukrainians have evaluated the blown up parts and pieces, it sure.

Sure enough, the sanctioned stuff is inside. Let me just give you some examples. The company Texas Instruments produces things called microcontrollers and voltage regulators. Those were found inside of these Iranian-made and Russian-use drones. It also found was a GPS module by the U.S. company Hemisphere GNSS.S. Also, some micro-processors from the company NPX USA were in those drones, too. So all in all, products from 13 different American companies, companies helped make up these drones, and in turn, Western intelligence agencies are in a mad scramble to figure out how to stop it. Now, to be clear, there is absolutely no indication that any of these U.S. firms knowingly sold this stuff to Iran. Instead, what's happening, at least according

to Ukrainian intelligence, and I'll tell you, I can confirm this from my own sources, it's that authorities in Tehran are setting up front companies or fake companies pretending to do real business, probably in Europe or China, and tricking sellers into thinking that these sales of this stuff is for legitimate or legal uses. Now, this scheme of using front companies is well-known and well-established. The Soviets actually did it for decades during the Cold War, and the North Koreans more recently have been doing it too, which means that this is really hard to stop. By the time U.S. intelligence discovers what's going on, it's usually too late. Now, there are some. tricky and interesting ways to get ahead of this problem.

Unfortunately, I cannot talk about that stuff. But I do have faith that some of the more honorable folks that I used to work with are trying to figure this out. So, my friends, with that, let's pivot from facts and data this morning to some counsel and opinion based on my experience as an intel officer. So this development, I think, just underlines, frankly, the folly of sanctions and trying to stop or slow this horrible war using them. Sanctions make us feel like we're doing something, but we're not.

If I could use an analogy, we're pedaling really, really hard, but we're riding on a stationary bike. So earlier I mentioned the North Koreans. They have been sanctioned for over 30 years now, and yet they've managed to build out a nuclear weapons program with more nuclear warheads, longer range missiles, and even a submarine-based launch system. The point then is that in Ukraine, Ukraine, peace is not going to be found using these sanctions. Now, you can maybe nibble around the edges and make life somewhat worse for the Russian military, or especially the average Russian, but the war will continue.

So if we want peace, it's not going to be through sanctions. Instead, that will take good leadership and a willingness to trade away the things that you want for the peace that you need. Next up, let's move on from Ukraine to China. where scientists there have announced that they have turned mosquitoes into injectors of vaccines without the patient even knowing. Oh boy. Now, if that got your attention, let me calm your nerves, maybe.

So far, these mosquitoes are only being used to vaccinate wild animals against disease. But perhaps you can imagine that the underlying technology might be used for humans too. But before we go down that road, let's talk about what we know. on December 16th, researchers at the Institute of Zoology at the Chinese Academies of Sciences revealed that they had developed a new technology that can turn mosquitoes into a flying vaccine carrier. So the goal was to use mosquitoes to immunize animals in the wild against zoonotic viruses. And those are diseases that can spread from animals to humans like rabies and Lyme disease and the West Nile virus. So here's what these researchers did, at least to

according to the South China Morning Post. The Chinese scientist cooked up a hybrid virus, kind of a Frankenstein of two deactivated viruses, with one of them being the Zika virus. Now, you might remember Zika following an outbreak of that very terrible disease in the Caribbean and Brazil a few years ago. The virus horrifically deforms fetuses such that when they're born, these poor babies have very tiny deformed heads.

At any rate, the Chinese scientist took this deactivated hybrid. virus and pumped it into blood cells. Then they let the mosquitoes feed on that blood, and by doing so, their bodies became, well, infected as it were, with this flu-like vaccine. The mosquitoes then bit lab mice, upwards of 90 times, actually, passing along the vaccine into the mice as they did so. Later, the mice were exposed to fatal doses of the Zika virus, and the mice survived. So researchers said they had turned mosquitoes into unwitting injectors of vaccines into unwitting animals. By the way, the vaccine's antibodies apparently lasted for over five months.

Finally, the researchers promised that they had made sure that these vaccine injecting mosquitoes didn't escape into the wild. Plus, even if one managed to slip out, not to worry, because they irradiated them with x-rays so they can't breathe. They're infertile. Well, all right, there you have it. Mosquitoes are flying needles, injecting animals, and maybe, perhaps, people with vaccines. So how do you feel about this, given what likely happened at the lab in Wuhan,

when they were doing COVID research? Do you trust these Chinese researchers that they were safe and definitely didn't release these mosquitoes into the wild? Well, I will leave that up to you as always, but from my optic, this one is, worth watching, and I will. With that, ladies and gentlemen, let's take a quick break. When we come back, I've got two more critical pieces of news for you.

Hang tight. We will be right back. Ryan Reynolds here for MintMobil. I don't know if you knew this, but anyone can get the same premium wireless for $15 a month plan that I've been enjoying. It's not just for celebrities, so do like I did and have one of your assistance assistants to switch you to MintMobile today. I'm told it's super easy to do at mintmobile.com slash switch. Up front payment of $45 for three-month plan equivalent to $15 per month required.

Intro rate first three months only, then full-price plan options available. Taxes and fees extra. Seeful terms at mintmobile.com. Welcome back to the PDB. I've got two more critical pieces of news for you this morning. First, there is an offshore wind farm in Rhode Island that is moving forward with permitting and construction this morning. But what's remarkable about that is that U.S. government scientists have said that that

project should not move forward. It's risky, especially for some fish, but the Biden administration overruled their counsel. So here's what we know based on reporting from Bloomberg News. A little over a year ago, in October of 2021, the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management was considering the authorization of a new offshore wind farm called South Fork. Now, it was to be built in the waters off of Rhode Island in an area called Coxledge. So for my fishermen out there, you probably know of this place. a very important spawning ground for all sorts of fish to include the southern New England cod.

That is a very famous fish in the region. And it's one that's been stressed over the years in terms of population numbers. So scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration presented a report to the Interior Department and that Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. And they warned against the wind farm, citing the cod in particular, saying that it was, quote, a high-risk project for these fish, end quote, and would be damaging to both the fish and the fishing industry. Well, a month later, the Biden administration chose to ignore that warning and they approved of the wind farm anyway. So folks, I bring this to you for a couple of reasons. First, this same bureau at the Interior Department is considering offshore proposals near the states of Oregon,

California, Texas, Louisiana, and the Central Atlantic. So the concern then, is that if the Biden administration is going to ignore scientific counsel in Rhode Island, well, odds are they will probably ignore it elsewhere too, perhaps in your backyard. Second, this really, for me anyway, drives home the point that there is no such thing as green energy or clean energy. Wind power, like all forms of energy, comes with costs. Now, as always, you can choose to support it, and so too can the Biden administration, But we should be honest that as these wind farms get built, there will be costs to humans and fish alike. Finally this morning, let's talk about something good.

And it starts with something that you might not know. Since 1959, the U.S. Navy has trained bottlenose dolphins to do all sorts of things for the military, like recover lost equipment or intercept scuba diving spies at our ports and even detect buried sea mines and explosives. It's part of a program called the Marine Mammal System, and it operates out of the Point Loma Naval Base in San Diego, California. So I bring this up because the U.S. Navy wants to get rid of these dolphins, or should I say, the program. It costs U.S. taxpayers about $40 million a year to care for these 77 dolphins,

plus some sea lions, too, actually, 47 of those, largely doing the same thing as the dolphins. Anyway, a couple of weeks ago, the U.S. Congress decided that the U.S. Navy could not get rid of this program. Instead, Congress funded it for another year as a part of the recent defense bill. And Congress did that because apparently the Navy has not developed a technology that's any better at doing the job than the dolphins can. Now, it is true that the Navy has developed a few underwater drones equipped with some fancy sonar and other capabilities, but according to those involved with the program and some outside evaluators, the dolphins have that human-supplied sonar technology

absolutely beat, hands down, or flippers down, whichever you'd like. So what's also fascinating here is that the dolphins are not only superior to human manufactured sonar systems, but also in their ability to discern what exactly they see in front of them. In other words, object recognition. And they can be trained to then signal back to their humans with remarkable accuracy of what they see, far better than any drone technology in the possession of the Navy. That is especially true when dolphins work to identify sea mines. And one final note here, to just give you a sense of how good these dolphins are,

during the training program for the Navy SEALs, the men that try to sneak into ports to conduct reconnaissance or sabotage operations. So they test those Navy SEALs against dolphins, you know, swimming around in the ports. Well, according to one seal, quote, we really have no way to defeat a dolphin. You're in their element. And they find you every single time. So there you have it.

Our hearty thanks to the Dolphins and their human trainers out in San Diego this morning. You know what? Let's keep this program. I kind of like it. And with that, ladies and gentlemen, we conclude your morning brief. But I've got one more thing for you. We'll be right back. Spring is the season everyone refreshes everything except their blinds.

People put it off because they think it's complicated. But at blinds.com, we've spent 30 years proving it's not. Right now, you can save big during the spring Cyber Monday sale. Whether you want to DIY it or have a pro to handle everything from measure to install, we've got you. Free samples, real design experts, and zero pressure. Just help when you need it. Shop up to 50% off site wide.

Huge savings on special buys, plus a free professional measure now during the spring Cyber Monday sale. Rules and restrictions apply. Welcome back to the PDB folks. I've got one more thing before I let you go. So by now, you have almost certainly heard all the headlines coming out of Washington. in D.C. about Republicans arguing with themselves over who should be the next speaker of the House. Now, I'm not going to get into that fight, but I do want to draw your attention to how the media and Joe Biden are describing it. Words being used include chaos and turmoil and horror.

But what was really fascinating to me based on my time serving abroad was Joe Biden's comment. He said, quote, I just think it's a little embarrassing that it's taken so long. And the way they're dealing with one another, just embarrassing, end quote. And then he added this. And here's what I really want us to focus on. The rest of the world is looking. They're looking to see if we can get our act together. In other words, he's saying that this messy process of choosing a speaker of the house is an international embarrassment and that the entire world is watching that embarrassment. Well, as always, I'm going to let you decide if that's true. And as you decide, I want to offer you a personal story of when I was a CIA officer abroad

because I think it might help guide your thinking. So I was at a place very far away from home talking to a pretty important person who had decided to work for the CIA as an asset or an agent. At the time, George Bush was president, and there were all sorts of headlines about him and his administration, lots of fights in the media. and I must confess that I viewed that fighting as a bit embarrassing. I wanted to present to this man a perfect picture of America so that he would think that he had joined a top-notch team,

not some squabbling bunch of ninnies. So he and I were talking about the fighting, and I made some comment in passing that, you know, don't worry, all that political wrestling at the Capitol and the White House will not affect our work together. and I'll paraphrase for you what he said in response. He said, Brian, when I go home, if I tried to stand up and wag my finger at my president and disapproval or his political party, I would be killed.

If newspapers and TV presenters said that the government was an embarrassment or horrible, they would be shut down and the journalists killed. So when I watch what's happening in America, I don't think it's bad or embarrassing. I think it's incredible. Your fighting is not bad. It's what I want for my country. And that's why I work with you guys. I want freedom.

I want freedom to yell at my president and say that he's wrong or stupid. And then I want to replace him, but I can't. So don't worry about what you call drama, Brian. I call that freedom. And you know, folks, I remember nodding a woman. long in agreement with him as he spoke, but inside I felt so silly. Because he was right. Of course he was right. Democracy is messy. However, Republic gets in food fights all the time and it gets

nasty. That is the nature of a free society. By the way, if you want some fun history on that, read about the presidential election of 1800 between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. Now, what they said about each other will make you blush, even today. The point, folks, is that Joe Biden is only half right here. The world is watching America. That is true. They're watching the messy process of choosing a House speaker. But as Joe Biden knows or you should know, it's not something to label as an embarrassment.

Because as that very brave man told me years ago, it's actually something to celebrate. It's an expression of freedom and of liberty. And that, ladies and gentlemen, concludes your morning brief. As always, we close out the show, reminding each other of why we are here, talking about our country and our world. It's the creed of every good spy and every smart American. It's from John, chapter 8, verse 32. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Good day. All. Pay off your home, travel for life, drive a Ferrari. In celebration of the world premiere of the Monopoly Big Board Buckslot machine by Aristocrat Gaming, Yamava Resort and Casino at San Manuel is giving one person a $1.6 million dream package. The biggest prize in Yamava's history. Club Serrano members can earn daily instant prizes and secure a spot in the finale May 29th.

Don't pass go and own it all. Only at Yamava, celebrating its 40th anniversary. You win? Details at Yamava.com must be 21-20. Please gamble responsibly. Monopoly is a trademark of Hasbro. Hasbro is not a sponsor of this promotion. Some follow the noise.

Bloomberg follows the money, whether it's the funds fueling AI or crypto's trillion dollar swings. There's a money side to every story. Get the money side of the story. Subscribe now at Bloomberg.com.