The President's Daily Brief - July 30th, 2025: Armed Vigilantes Take Over Russian Streets & Britain’s Palestine Shift

Episode Date: July 30, 2025

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: Russia’s police forces are vanishing as officers leave to fight in Ukraine. Now, armed nationalist vigilantes are filling the power vacuum—and the Kremlin appears to be looking the other way. The United Kingdom says it may soon recognize a Palestinian state, joining a growing list of European countries breaking with U.S. policy. Months after a deadly terror attack in Kashmir brought India and Pakistan to the brink of war, India says it has killed the militants responsible. In today’s Back of the Brief—Taiwan’s president postpones a planned U.S. stopover, as high-level trade talks between Washington and Beijing continue behind the scenes. 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 Birch Gold: Text PDB to 989898 and get your free info kit on gold American Financing: Call American Financing today to find out how customers are saving an avg of $800/mo. 866-885-1881 or visit https://www.AmericanFinancing.net/PDB - NMLS 182334, https://nmlsconsumeraccess.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Welcome to the President's Daily Brief. I'm Mike Baker. Your eyes and ears on the world stage. All right. Let's get briefed. We'll start in Russia, where reportedly Russia's war in Ukraine is hollowing out its police force. Now, armed nationalist vigilantes are reportedly taking over the streets, and the Kremlin, apparently, isn't stopping them. Later in the show, the UK becomes the latest European nation that says it may recognize a Palestinian state. The news comes as Washington slams a UN conference on the two-state solution, calling it a dangerous stunt that empowers Hamas and derails peace talks. Plus, months after a terror attack pushed India and Pakistan to the brink of war, India says it has eliminated the terrorists responsible for the slaughter. And in today's back of the brief, Taiwan's president delays, postpones, a U.S. stopover, as Washington and Beijing try to keep trade talks on track. But first, today's PDB spotlight. We'll start things off today with reports of a new

trend emerging across Russia, one that suggests the war in Ukraine is causing the government to possibly lose control of its own streets. As the war drags on, Russia isn't just facing a manpower crisis on the battlefield, it's apparently facing one in its police force. Local law enforcement across Russia is being gutted, with some cities missing as much as 40 percent. of their patrol officers. The Interior Ministry recently admitted that more than 33,000 officers left the police force last year alone. Now, to put that in context, the city of New York's entire police force is roughly 31,000.

As you would imagine, that's led to a surge in crime. Some cities have reported double-digit increases in assaults, thefts, and property crimes, and in many rural areas, locals say police simply don't show up anymore. The reason for this is simple. The pay at the war's front lines is better. A patrol officer in a Russian city might earn the equivalent of just a few hundred dollars a month, but military recruiters are offering signing bonuses worth more than a year's entire salary. For many, especially in poorer or rural areas, the choice is clear, leave the streets behind

and head to the front. But the Kremlin's response to this law enforcement vacuum is raising alarm bells. Instead of rebuilding police forces with better pay and benefits, The Russian government is leaning on armed nationalist vigilante groups, either by turning a blind eye or, in some cases, offering quiet support, as these groups dispense their own version of justice. One of the largest and most active organizations is called Uzkaya Obshina. That's a Russian community in English. The far-right group was founded back in 2020 and is quickly grown to include 150 regional chapters

across all 11 Russian time zones. The organization has become the face of unofficial law enforcement in many towns. For comparison purposes, picture the far-right Patriot Front, for example, in the U.S. being entrusted with urban law enforcement that's traditionally reserved for, well, actual law enforcement. Videos posted online show Ruskaya Obshina members, often in tactical gear, breaking up drunken brawls, detaining people accused of petty theft, and raiding the homes and workplaces of migrants. They've also targeted private LGBTQ gatherings, capturing and humiliating attendees on camera,

and then posting the footage online. In some cases, they've even marched civilians to military enlistment offices, effectively carrying out forced conscription. These groups claim they're simply stepping in. Oh, they're just stepping in to restore order while the police are away. Hey, we're just trying to be good citizens. But their actions go, well, well beyond community policing. And in many cases, they have the quiet backing of local officials or Kremlin-connected oligarchs.

In Siberia, a group called Russian Drusina is patrolling the streets with the support of conservative businessman Konstantin Malofiev. Now, Malofev is a pro-Kremlin media mogul and ultra-nationalist financier who's been sanctioned by the U.S. and EU for supporting separatist movements in eastern Ukraine. In Russia's far east, a regional governor has organized an official, quote, Tiger-Yosur. unit. That sounds very tough, made up of war veterans to enforce law and order. That group draws from veterans of the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade, one of the Russia's most heavily deployed units in Ukraine. The name Tiger isn't accidental. It's a nod to the Amur Tiger, a regional symbol of strength and aggression. Now, if you're a listener to the show, you should see an irony here. For years now, Vladimir Putin has been waging his war in Ukraine under the narrative of

denazification, claiming that it's necessary to fight fascists and ultra-nationalist forces in Ukraine. However, the Kremlin is now counting on those ultra-nationalist forces in Russia to maintain order, while the regular police quit their jobs to chase fat stacks on the front lines. Analyst warned this could backfire. By empowering nationalist paramilitary groups, the Kremlin risks undermining its own monopoly on maintaining order and controlling the population. And in a country with nearly 200 ethnic minorities, this surge in vigilante justice could inflame ethnic tensions and destabilized local communities.

If this continues, Russia could face a scenario where rival regional warlords and nationalist militias begin competing for control, not unlike post-Sovia or even modern-day Iran with its layers of parallel security forces. As one human rights lawyer in Moscow put it, quote, in a normal country, those enforcing the law shouldn't be political or ideological, but in Russia today, the line between law enforcement and extremism is vanishing, end quote. Now, before we go to break, a quick reminder. If you like what you're hearing and you want to listen to the show completely ad-free, well, all you have to do is become a premium member of the president's daily brief.

It's that simple. Just head to PDB premium.com to sign up. In addition to the ad-free feed, you'll get access to our weekly newsletter, the PDB intelligence checklist, and a monthly Ask Me Anything episode. July's AMA is just a... about ready to launch, by the way. Again, you can sign up at PDB premium.com. All right, after the break, the UK signals support for Palestinian statehood, the so-called two-state solution, that the U.S. derides as a pro-Hamas theater effort, and India takes out the militants

behind April's deadly Kashmir attack. I'll be right back. Hey, Mike Baker here. Let me ask you a finance question, shall I? Well, all right. What if you could delay your next two mortgage payments. That's right. Imagine putting those two payments in your pocket and finally getting a little breathing room. Well, it is possible when you call American financing today. Look, if you're feeling stretched by everyday expenses, I'm talking about grocery bills, gas bills, utility bills, other bills piling up, well, you're not alone. Most Americans are actually putting a lot of these expenses on credit cards, and for many of them, there doesn't seem to be a way out. American financing can show you how to use your home's equity to pay off that debt. Their salary-based, more

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Welcome back to the PDB. It seems that momentum is building behind Francis Bush to recognize an independent Palestinian state as international outrage grows over the humanitarian situation in Gaza. And now the British government is throwing their hat into the ring. On Tuesday, British Prime Minister Kier Starrmer surprised many observers when he gave Israel a blunt ultimatum. He demanded that Israel agreed to an immediate ceasefire.

and commit to a two-state solution, or he'll formally recognize the state of Palestine this September at the UN's General Assembly. Starrmer said he was, quote, revolted by reports of mass hunger, surging malnutrition, and an increasing number of civilian deaths in the enclave, particularly among children, as reported by the health ministry in Gaza. He recalled his cabinet from summer recess on Sunday for an emergency meeting over the situation in Gaza, telling them that the deteriorating conditions on the ground, and the diminishing prospects of reaching a two-state solution through ceasefire negotiations

demanded that they up the diplomatic pressure on Israel. The cabinet quickly agreed to back his roadmap for peace in the region. Starmor said Tuesday, quote, I can confirm the U.K. will recognize the state of Palestine by the UN General Assembly in September, unless the Israeli government takes meaningful steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, agree to a ceasefire, and commit to a long-term, sustainable peace reviving the prospect of a two-state solution, end quote. Additionally, Starmor demanded that Israel pledged not to annex the long-disputed West Bank,

parts of which are governed by the Palestinian Authority. As for Hamas, the Prime Minister called on the terror group to agree to a ceasefire, release the remaining Israeli hostages, and accept that it will have no role in governing post-war Gaza. Oh, easy-peasy, simple as that, that should do it. Starmers pivot on the issue of statehood comes after French President and Emmanuel Macron declared last Thursday that France will officially recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September, making them the first G7 nation to do so. Last week, it appeared Britain would tow the line of other G7 members, which include the U.S., Canada, Germany, Japan, and Italy,

and postpone any calls for a two-state solution until after the war in Gaza ends. But Starmor has been under increasing pressure from within his labor party to take a tougher line on Israel. Starmar explained his reasoning, telling reporters on Tuesday, quote, The reason we've announced this in the way we have is precisely because I want to ensure that this plays a part in changing the conditions on the ground. He added, of course, it will also keep the opposition off my back.

End quote. Okay, I made up that last little sentence there. French officials lauded Starmor shift towards statehood, of course they did, as did Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry and officials with the Palestinian Authority. But Israel's foreign ministry quickly condemned the announcement, and saying they fundamentally reject Britain's attempt at diplomatic coercion. In a statement, Israeli leaders said, quote,

the shift in the British government's position at this time, following the French move and internal political pressures, constitutes a reward for Hamas and harms the efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and a framework for the release of hostages, end quote. President Trump was softer in his criticism, but echoed Israel's sentiments, telling reporters that France and Britain are essentially, quote, rewarding Hamas. Trump said that Starmar and McCrone are, quote, saying the same thing, and that's okay, but, you know, it doesn't mean I have to agree, end quote.

Starmor made the announcement after holding talks with Trump in Scotland earlier this week, though Trump stressed that the issue did not come up in their discussions. Starmes' announcement, or threat, depending on your view, also came amid the backdrop of a UN conference being held this week in New York City that's focused on a two-state solution, one that Israeli and U.S. leaders have decried as a public. publicity stunt that profits Hamas and undermines real-world efforts to achieve a lasting peace. The conference, organized by France and Saudi Arabia, and attended by dozens of countries because, you know, foreign diplomats love nothing better than partying in New York City for a few days, seeks to build a consensus around a two-state solution as the only viable means of securing long-term peace in the region. Officials from Luxembourg hinted on Monday that they may soon join France in recognizing an independent Palestine, and French officials

hope other nations will soon follow suit. But officials with the U.S. State Department blasted the conference as an unproductive and ill-time stunt that will, quote, prolong the war and bolden Hamas and reward its obstruction. A spokesperson for U.S. Secretary of State Marker Rubio also singled out Macron, noting his announcement last week was, quote, welcomed by Hamas, and, quote, greatly undercuts are diplomatic efforts to end the suffering in Gaza, free the hostages, and move the whole Middle East towards a brighter and more problem. prosperous future, end quote. Meanwhile, the ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas have all but collapsed, and Jerusalem is considering expanding operations in the enclave to up the pressure on the

terror group. Now, here's the thing. While Western countries stepping forward and announcing that they now support a two-state solution may not actually lead to peace, well, particularly if Hamas continues to insist that it maintain a governing role, it does have the benefit, though, of making those Western nations feel righteous and morally superior. Never, ever underestimate the power of acting self-righteous, even if it's just performative art. Okay, turning to India, the government claims its security forces killed three Pakistani nationals

that were behind April's mass killing of tourists in the disputed region of Kashmir. That attack triggered one of the bloodiest cross-border escalations between the two nuclear-armed nations in decades. In a fiery speech to Parliament on Tuesday, home affairs minister Amit Shah confirmed that the trio was gunned down Monday during a firefight in a wildlife reserve in India-administered Kashmir. The Monday ambush was part of a targeted special operation dubbed Operation Mahadev. Indian forces say they recovered one American-made M-9 rifle and two AK-47s from the scene.

The weapons were rushed to a regional forensics lab, where ballistic tests allegedly confirmed a match with shell casings found at the original terror attack scene. Shah told lawmakers, quote, six scientists have cross-verified it. These are 100% the bullets that they had fired. As PDB listeners will remember, the attack took place back on the 22nd of April. Terrorists opened fire on unarmed Hindu pilgrims and tourists

in a mountain meadow, killing 26 civilians in front of their families. New Delhi wasted no time, blaming Pakistan for harboring the terrorists, and hit back with retaliatory strikes across the heavily contested border. Pakistan returned fire with drones and missiles and fighter jets, and for four straight days, the two nuclear rivals traded blows in what quickly spiraled into the worst cross-border violence since the 1999 cargo war. Eventually, with pressure from the Trump administration, a ceasefire was put in place.

Shaw said the three terrorists were linked to Pakistani-based Islamist terror groups, though only two were confirmed to have ties to Lashkar-a-taiba, that's a UN and U.S. designated terrorist organization. The identity and affiliation of the third attacker remains unclear. According to Shaw, the trio had been hiding in the region for several months and were located with the help of local residents who had unknowingly provided them shelter. The Home Affairs Minister say, quote, we have voter ID numbers of two of them, we have weapons recovered from them, they killed our tourists, and now they have been killed, end quote. But not everyone in Parliament there in India is lining up to celebrate. Opposition leaders

accused Shaw of dragging his feet in finding the terrorists and failing to prevent the massacre. One lawmaker questioned why it took several months to eliminate the terrorists. Another lawmaker even demanded Shaw take personal responsibility for a lack of security in the region. Shah pushed back against that accusation. He told lawmakers the case had been immediately handed over to the National Investigation Agency, which is India's top counter-trial. terrorism body, and that border crossings were sealed within hours of the attack to prevent the suspects from fleeing. Still, Tuesday's announcement marked the first official confirmation that the gunmen have been killed, and so far none of the Indian government's claims, including the

firefight itself, have actually been independently verified. Islamabad has yet to issue any official response. All right, coming up next in the back of the brief, President Lai of Taiwan postpones a U.S. trip, aiming to avoid diplomatic turbulence with Beijing. Stay with us. Hey, Mike Baker here. Let's take just a brief moment to talk about ways to protect your hard-earned savings. Now, look, I know the personal finances talk isn't everybody's favorite, but it is critically important to your financial health. Look, one of the smartest ways to protect your savings is through diversification, and one way to diversify is with gold from the Birch Gold Group. Look, gold is up some 40% just in the past year.

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In today's back of the brief, Taiwan's president, Lai Ching-Da, has shelved plans for a high-profile visit to the U.S., in a move aimed at sidestepping direct provocation with Beijing, while President Trump works to hammer out a trade deal with China. The decision confirmed by three people familiar with the matter delays what would have been Lai's first trip stateside since Trump's return to office. The tentative itinerary, which was never formally announced, had included a possible stopover in Dallas on route to visits with Tai Bay's Latin American allies of Guatemala, Belize, and Paraguay. Lice trip is now punted to later this year, citing multiple factors such as ongoing disaster

recovery from a typhoon just this week and the timing of sensitive tariff negotiations between Washington and Beijing. On Tuesday, U.S. and Chinese officials wrapped up two days of talks in Stockholm, with both sides agreeing to pursue an extension of their 90-day tariff truce. That's a fragile pause in a grinding economic standoff that Trump is eager to resolve before a possible autumn summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. When asked for clarity, a Taiwanese presidential office spokeswoman told reporters that Lai's itinerary would be announced when finalized, but she also acknowledged that, quote, considering typhoon disaster recovery efforts in southern Taiwan and the U.S. Taiwan reciprocal tariff measures, the president currently has no plans for overseas visits in the near

future." As our listeners know, China, which claims Taiwan as its territory, despite the island's democratic self-rule, has never ruled out the use of force to achieve unification and routinely lashes out in any foreign contact with Taiwanese leaders. Beijing has repeatedly condemned past U.S. stopovers by Tai Bay's president as, quote, sneaky and warned Washington against what it calls the creeping legitimization of Taiwanese sovereignty. Although the U.S. does not formally recognize Taiwan, it remains the island's top international backer and chief arms supplier. However, under the Taiwan Relations Act, Washington is legally obligated to help Taipei maintain its self-defense capabilities. Lai's visit would have signaled a sharper diplomatic posture by

Taiwan at a time of heightened U.S.-China tensions, something that Trump administration officials appear intent on avoiding, at least while trade talks are in motion. Still, the White House has maintained the so-called transits by Taiwanese officials are in line with past administrations and consistent with long-standing U.S. policy. And that, my friends, is the President's Daily Brief for Wednesday, the 30th of July. We are almost, almost to the end of July. If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me at PDB at thefirsttv.com. And finally, if you can carve out a couple of minutes from your busy day,

well, I hope you'll take the time to check out and subscribe to our YouTube channel. You can find that, well, on YouTube, at Presidents' Daily Brin. I'm Mike Baker, and I'll be back later today with the PDB afternoon bulletin. Until then, stay informed. Stay safe. Stay cool. Starting a business can seem like a daunting task, unless you have a partner like Shopify.

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