The President's Daily Brief - March 20th, 2025: Grisly Cartel ‘Extermination Camp’ Uncovered & Houthi Leaders Go Into Hiding

Episode Date: March 20, 2025

In this episode of The President’s Daily Brief:   • A grisly discovery in Mexico—volunteers searching for missing loved ones uncover what appears to be an extermination site used by drug cartels, complete with burned remains and underground cremation ovens. • The U.S. military launches another round of strikes on Houthi strongholds in Yemen, forcing Houthi leaders into hiding and cutting off communications. • President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy hold what Trump calls a "very good" call, discussing steps toward a ceasefire. • And in today’s Back of the Brief—the European Union unveils a new initiative to cut reliance on U.S. military supplies, as intelligence warns Russia could be ready for war in five years. 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

This is Euphoria Calvin Klein, the new elixir collection, featuring three perfume intense scents, inspired by a unique orchid accord, paired with vanilla, each with its own distinct attitude, each with its own universe, bold elixir, sensual, woody, addictive, magnetic elixir, sweet and romantic like a lingering touch, solar elixir, a radiant expression of joy, ultra-concentrated for amplified impact and lasting power. Find your euphoria. Discover the Euphoria Elixir Collection by Calvin Klein. Thursday, the 20th of March, 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 things off with a grisly discovery in Mexico. Volunteers searching for missing loved ones uncovered what appears to be

an extermination site used by drug cartels, complete with burned remains and underground cremation ovens. And we've got the details. Later in the show, The U.S. military launched another round of strikes on Khuti strongholds in Yemen. Now, the attacks have forced Khutti leaders into hiding, cutting off communications as they scramble to respond. Plus, President Trump engages in a, quote, very good call with Ukrainian President Zelensky, with the pair discussing steps toward a ceasefire. Again, and not to beat that dead warhorse, but this ceasefire talk with Zelensky only means something if Putin decides that he wants to stop waging war on Ukraine. And in today's back of the brief, the European Union is unveiling a new initiative to cut reliance on U.S. military supplies.

With intelligence warning that Russia could be ready for war in five years, the EU is making moves to bolster its own security. But first, today's PDB spotlight. We'll begin in Mexico. What the violence and depravity of the nation's drug cartels is once again on display following the gruesome discovery of what authorities are calling an extermination camp. Mexican authorities recently descended on the Isigira Ranch in the western state of Hulisco, after a group of volunteers, searching for their missing loved ones, received a tip about a mass grave hidden at the abandoned ranch just outside of Guadalajara. When they arrived at the ranch, officials found underground cremation ovens, burned human remains, bone fragments, hundreds of pairs of shoes, discarded clothing, and children's toys.

That's according to a report from the New York Times. They even found multiple figurines of Santa Moete, the Mexican folk saint of death, revered by criminals and drug traffickers throughout the country. As the investigation progressed, authorities also uncovered at least 96 shell cases. basings of various calibers and metal gripping rings likely used to bind the victims. The Grizzly discovery has raised fears that the new generation Halisco cartel, which previously operated the ranch, likely carried out mass killings at the property. It's unclear how many people died at the ranch and authorities have yet to identify any of the remains. But the more than 700 personal items found scattered across the property hint

at a disturbingly high number of victims. Even for a country that is sadly acclimated to episodes of brutal cartel violence, the images sent shockwaves through the community, with local media outlets referring to the site as a, quote, extermination camp. The discovery grabbed the attention of Mexican President Claudius Scheinbaum, who directed the state attorney general's office to take over the investigation over concerns that local officials may have engaged in a cover-up. The findings also provoked outrage among cartel victims, families, and human rights groups who renewed their demands that the Mexican government make cracking down on the cartels their top priority.

A security analyst based in Mexico City told the New York Times, quote, The number of victims that presumably could have been buried there is enormous, and it resurfaced the nightmarish reminder that Mexico is plagued with mass graves. According to the government, more than 120,000 people have been, quote, forcibly disappeared in Mexico since 1962 when record keeping first began, though the families of victims warned that number is likely far higher. While the government is not officially determined who was behind the mass killings on the ranch, suspicion, as mentioned, has fallen on the new generation Helisco Cartel,

which first emerged in the early 2010s. They've since garnered a reputation as one of the most violent criminal groups in Mexico, and, frankly, that's no small feat, given their competition from groups like the notoriously brutal Sinolawa cartel. The New Halisco Generation Cartel is a major trafficker of the deadly opioid fentanyl, as well as meth, but have since diversified their criminal schemes to include large-scale human trafficking. According to our report from the New York Times, as the cartel rapidly expanded in recent years, authorities in the region noted a marked increase in homicides, disappearances, and the discovery of mass graves. Indira Novaro, the leader of the group Searching Warriors of Helisco that first discovered the

extermination camp, confirmed that a number of people have contacted the group since the site became publicized, saying they were unwittingly recruited by the new generation. Halisco cartel through false job offers. They would reportedly be told to meet at a bus station in Guadalajara before being taken to the ranch where they were trained with weapons and in grisly torture techniques. They also said the ranch served as a disposal site for the victims of the cartel. Horrifically, the young recruits would reportedly be forced to take part in a torture and killing of victims, and if they refused, were sometimes fed to wild animals. According to the New York Times, Navarro said, quote, this is not a horror film, this is our reality,

and people should know about it, end quote. The discovery of the Halisco Ranch comes as Mexico faces economic pressure from the Trump administration to crack down on the cartels. In recent months, the Mexican government has been bringing the fight to drug cartels with renewed vigor, dispatches, dispatches, and some 10,000 troops in early February to towns and cities along the border, including cartel strongholds like Juarez, and hundreds more to Sinaloa State. It's the main hub for fentanyl trafficking. A series of high-profile arrests, drug seizures, and fentanyl lab busts have followed, striking at least a temporary blow to cartel operations. Officials recently said they've made

nearly 1,000 arrests since the crackdown began and seized nearly as much fentanyl in the last five months as they did in the previous year. All right. Coming up next, the U.S. strikes Houthi strongholds, forcing leaders into hiding, while President Trump picks up the phone and calls President Zelensky, saying a ceasefire remains, quote, on track. I'll be right back. Wireless can feel like a world of traps, but not with visible. It's One-line wireless with unlimited data and hotspot. Powered by Verizon for $25 a month. Taxes and fees included.

Plus, for a limited time, new members pay just $20 a month for one year on the Visible plan. Using the code Fresh Start. Refresh your wireless with Visible. Tap the banner to switch today. Terms apply. Limited time offer subject to change. See Visible.com for plan features and network management details. Padiday 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 Padaday. Out of day. Bring it on.

Welcome back to the PDB. The U.S. has intensified its airstrike campaign against the Houthis, this time shifting focus to the Iranian terror proxy's leadership stronghold in Yemen's Sada province. On Tuesday night, U.S. fighter jets pounded multiple sites, including the Al-Safra district. That's a key weapons depot and training location. The Houthi-run Amasura news channel reported more than 10. and strikes in the area, which Yemeni sources describe as one of the terror group's most heavily fortified locations. As we've been discussing here on the PDB, the Houthis have waged a relentless

conflict against U.S. and allied forces in the Red Sea, launching missile and drone attacks that have forced global shipping routes into disarray. The Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden typically handle about 12 percent of the world's trade, but with attacks making those waters increasingly dangerous, many vessels have been forced to reroute around Africa. But the pressure on the rebel group is mounting. Yemeni sources tell Reuters that Houthi leadership has gone underground, cutting off communications and abandoning mobile phones in an effort to evade detection. The only senior figure seen in recent days was Muhammad Ali Ahuti, and that's the head of the Supreme Revolutionary Committee, and he was filmed riding a public bus in disguise before delivering a speech in Sana' Sabine Square.

The terror group has also scrambled to relocate weapons, digging new trenches and bunkers in an effort to shield its arsenal from U.S. surveillance. Yet intelligence suggests that the ongoing U.S. airstrikes are targeting those newly established sites, continuing to weaken the Iran-backed terror group's operational capacity. Despite these setbacks, the Houthis remain defiant. Their military spokesperson claimed that they again launched cruise missiles and drones at the USS Harry Truman Carrier Group, marking the fourth attempted strike on U.S. warships in a 72-hour period. The Pentagon, however, has not confirmed any damage, dismissing Khuti claims as, quote, exaggerated and misleading. President Trump continues to place the blame squarely on the Iranian regime,

warning that Iran will be held responsible for any continued attacks. While reports indicate Iran has scaled back direct military assistance to the Houthis, U.S. intelligence suggests logistical and material support continues. Trump reinforced that stance on Truth Social Wednesday, vowing that the Houthis, quote, will be completely annihilated and warning Iran to cease all supply shipments to its proxy. The commander-in-chief's message was blunt. U.S. forces will continue to inflict, quote, tremendous damage upon the Khutti barbarians

until the terror group halts its Red Sea attacks. U.S. Central Command confirmed that, quote, continuous operations against Iran-backed Khutti terrorists will persist until maritime security is restored. Meanwhile, Iran's position appears increasingly conflicted. As we reported Wednesday, two senior Iranian officials told Reuters that Tehran issued a verbal warning to the Houthis last week, urging them to scale back hostilities. But the Houthis publicly rejected any calls for restraint. Not that I'm cynical, but, well, there is a chance that Iran's claims that they've asked

to refrain from their attacks is simply window dressing, designed to give the Mullah's plausible deniability while still allowing their proxy to continue making waves in the Red Sea. The coming days will reveal whether sustained U.S. pressure can cripple the Houthi's operational capacity, or if the terror group can somehow endure and escalate its attacks. All right. Next, I want to turn your attention to the war in Ukraine. Following a tumultuous 24 hours, which included a phone call between President Trump and

President Vladimir Putin, followed shortly after by continued Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure and energy sites, President Trump said Wednesday, that ceasefire talks are back on track after what he described as a, quote, very good call with Ukrainian President Zelensky. The pair spoke for an hour on Wednesday morning, just one day after Trump held a nearly two-hour phone call with Putin. To bring you up to speed, during the phone call on Tuesday, Trump and Putin agreed to immediately commence negotiations at a neutral site in the Middle East for a potential peace deal, while in the interim, Putin agreed, in theory, to a third, 30-day limited ceasefire. Now, that would be a very limited ceasefire in the sense because they

basically only agreed to halting attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. But even that tentative agreement was thrown into question by Wednesday morning. After Ukrainian officials said Russia launched a massive drone and missile bombardment overnight that struck two hospitals in northeastern Ukraine and an energy substation in the eastern Denezk region. Those are accusations which Russia denied. Ahead of his call with Trump, Zelensky pointed to the Russian attacks overnight as proof that Putin is not being honest about his intentions. Well, that would be a shock, saying, quote, Putin's words are very much at odds with reality.

It appeared hopes for a limited truce were already at risk of disintegrating. But after the call with Zelensky, Trump claimed that, quote, we are very much on track, while Zelensky said the conversation was positive, frank, and very substantive. Zelensky even went on to say that, quote, together with America, with President Trump, and under American leadership, lasting peace can be achieved this year. So, what happened during the phone call? Well, most notably, Zelensky officially agreed to the partial ceasefire with Russia covering energy and other civilian infrastructure, though it remains unclear how the tentative agreement will be formally implemented and enforced. Perhaps more surprisingly, Trump appeared to soften his stance toward Kiev. Zelensky reportedly requested additional air defense systems, particularly U.S. made Patriot missile systems, and Trump agreed to work with him to fulfill the request.

Trump also pledged to keep providing Keev with military and intelligence assistance, despite the Kremlin's demand on Tuesday that ongoing aid be halted. Furthermore, President Trump told Zelensky that the U.S. could help run Ukraine, electrical facilities and nuclear power plants as a kind of security guarantee, reportedly saying that, quote, American ownership of those plants would be the best protection for that infrastructure, end quote. U.S. Secretary of State Marker Rubio later confirmed the details of the call

and said a delegation from the U.S. will hold discussions with Russian and Ukrainian officials next Monday and Tuesday in Saudi Arabia to work out the technical details of the partial ceasefire. and potentially expanded to include a halt on fighting in the Black Sea. Rubio suggested that these discussions could provide the basis for a broader accord to bring the war to a permanent end. It's encouraging progress to be sure, but as we've been tracking, Putin is still sticking to a long list of demands for a lasting peace that Kiva is not likely to accept. Much will likely hinge on how willing the Kremlin is to make concessions next week to move

the discussions forward. And so far, well, they've shown no willingness to back off their list of hardline demands. Adcknowledging the chaotic nature of the discussions this week, White House National Security Advisor Mike Walsz said Wednesday, quote, shuttle diplomacy is difficult, it's tough, but we are going back and forth at every level, driving both sides toward a ceasefire and driving both sides toward the end of this war, end quote. Hmm. Okay. Okay. Coming up, in the back of the brief. The EU, the European Union, unveils a new defense strategy to cut reliance on U.S. military supplies, preparing for a potential conflict with Russia in the coming years.

We'll have those details next. Choice hotels get you more of what you value. Comfort in. It's calling your name. Save on the stay. Oh, and free waffles are yours to claim. book direct at storeshirtails.com In today's back of the brief, the European Union unveiled an ambitious security strategy aimed at reducing its dependence on U.S. military suppliers. The move urges member states to prioritize European defense firms

as intelligence warns of another looming war with Russia. The EU's push for military self-sufficiency is a direct response to growing concerns that Washington's commitment to European defense is, well, uncertain. Last month, the Trump administration signaled a shift in focus, prioritizing border security and Indo-Pacific threats over European defense. That's a stance that accelerated efforts within the EU to secure its own military capabilities.

Europe's security calculus has already been reshaped by Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, but NATO intelligence now suggests Moscow could be in a position to launch another attack on the continent within the next three to five years. With that threat, the European Commission on Wednesday rolled out its Readiness 2030 initiative. That's an aggressive plan to fortify Europe's defense industry and lessen reliance on American military technology. The strategy outlined as EU leaders meet at the European Council Summit today prioritizes investment in missile defense systems, artillery, ammunition, drones, cyber warfare tools, and border security. At the heart of the Readiness 2030 framework is a mandate requiring EU members to procure at

least 65% of their military equipment from EU suppliers, Norway or Ukraine. The initiative comes with a substantial financial backing. It's a newly created $164 billion loan program earmarked for EU-aligned defense projects, along with incentives for governments that prioritize European manufacturers over American firms. The move is a, well, it's frankly a seismic shift, especially considering that U.S. defense companies historically supplied nearly two-thirds of the EU's military equipment. But European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen defended this plan, stating, quote, the security architecture that we relied on, can no longer be taken for granted, end quote.

The strategy takes a page from repower EU, that's the EU's successful energy initiative that slashed dependence on Russian gas after Moscow weaponized its supply. France has long championed a quote, by European defense policy, but resistance is expected from countries like Poland and the Netherlands, which favor American-made weaponry.

Still, EU officials acknowledge the United States, States remains a vital Western ally. With the U.S. focusing elsewhere and Russia's military ambitions looming, the EU's pivot toward military self-reliance marks a defining moment that could alter Europe's security landscape in the years to come. And that, my friends, is the President's daily brief for Thursday, the 20th of March. Now, if you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me at PDB at thefirsttv.com. And not that I need to remind you. But to listen to the show ad-free, it's simple.

Become a premium member of the president's daily brief by visiting PDB premium.com. I'm Mike Baker, and I'll be back later today with the PDB afternoon bulletin. Until then, stay informed. Stay safe. Stay cool. 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.