The President's Daily Brief - November 15th, 2023: Xi-Biden Summit, Hospital Standoff, & Iceland On Edge

Episode Date: November 15, 2023

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: President Biden prepares for a significant meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in San Francisco. We delve into the a Gaza hospital and the truth behind Hamas’ “de-facto headquarters.” More internal dissent within the Biden administration over the White House’s strategy and decisions regarding the ongoing war. In the Back of the Brief, we focus on a small town in Iceland as it braces for the potential impact of a volcanic eruption. 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

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It's Wednesday, November 15th. Welcome to the President's Daily Brief. I'm Mike Baker, your eyes and ears on the world stage. Let's get briefed. In today's PDB, President Biden gets ready for his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. A little later in the program, we'll look at the latest developments with the Israel-Hamas conflict, specifically the efforts by the IDF to clear Hamas out of the Al-Shefa hospital in Gaza. and more dissent within the Biden administration over how the White House is handling the war.

Finally, in the back of the brief, a small town in Iceland braces for a potential volcanic eruption. But first up, the PDB spotlight. As President Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping prepare to meet at the Asia-Pacific summit in San Francisco today, we want to look at an important factor that could shape the discussion, specifically, the economic sands are shifting out of China's favor. A report today in the Wall Street Journal highlights the downtrend across China's economy. The CCP is struggling with widespread deflation, decreasing overseas investment in the country, high youth unemployment, unmanageable local government debt, declining consumer confidence, and a deflating property

bubble. Now, I'm not an economist, but that doesn't sound good. This stands in contrast to the U.S. where inflation appears to be subsiding, albeit slowly, and which just experienced its strongest quarter of economic growth in nearly two years. Now, while China is hardly in a full-blown decline and may still outpaced U.S. growth for some time, its dominant position atop the global economic ladder is in jeopardy. Xi is walking an economic tightrope as he faces the impacts of an aging population and contracting population growth, less rural to urban migration, and the consequences of massive stimulus spending launched in response to the global financial crisis of 2008.

The country is now swamped in excess infrastructure, and the CCP risks defaulting on the debt used to finance these projects. The impacts of foreign infrastructure loans made under the Belt and Road Initiative are also weighing on the situation, as lending dries up, and countries countries like Sri Lanka and Zambia default on their loan obligations. Authoritarian interventions by Xi have further undermined China's ability to compete. As an example, the CCP has engaged in a regulatory crackdown on private businesses in online commerce in a bid to further state control of the private sector. This has reportedly wiped out more than $1 trillion in market value and sent investors fleeing for

cover. She's belligerence on the world stage has also caused the U.S. and European countries to de-risk by restricting and reducing investments and trade with China. Now, the intricacies of China's economic situation are complex at best, and we shouldn't imagine that their global position and influence, particularly in manufacturing, is coming to an end. These developments, however, do show cracks in China's economic foundations, which they are. are obviously anxious to shore up. The economic situation is likely factoring into a recent propaganda push by Chinese media that is embracing stronger relations with the U.S. ahead of this week's Apex Summit in San Francisco. A state news agency report published Monday spoke of the, quote,

enduring strength of Xi's fondness for the American people and featured old photos of Xi smiling while sitting on an Iowa farmer's tractor. That's not. A wave of articles have also spoken of the need to get U.S.-China relations back on track. The articles have left the Chinese population, frankly, somewhat bewildered after years of negative narratives that painted the U.S. in an antagonistic light. Now, it's not all sunshine in the state media. Many outlets continue to lay the blame for frayed relations squarely on the U.S., along with the responsibility to fix the situation.

And the Israel-Hamas conflict has also fueled some negative. negative U.S. coverage in Chinese media and social media sites, blaming the U.S. for supporting or promoting the conflict and the violence against Palestinians. Now, this negative tone plays well with the so-called global South nations, and that's a part of the world that China is looking to draw further into its orbit of influence. Tomorrow's summit, which will mark Zee's first trip to the U.S. in six years, will be a major test for President Biden. Republicans remain critical of the Biden administration's conciliatory approach with China, particularly considering their increased harassment of Taiwan, human rights record, and role in the American fentanyl crisis.

Not to mention the Jir's regime's continued aggressive economic espionage and theft of intellectual property. I guess I did just mention it. On the subject of fentanyl, rumors are swirling that the Biden administration will announce a deal with China to stem the flow of fentanyl into the U.S. sources close to the negotiations have said it would involve a crackdown by the CCP on chemical companies that manufacture compounds used to produce the deadly opiate. In exchange, the Biden administration would reportedly lift sanctions on China's Forensic Police Institute that were imposed in 2020 following reports of their involvement in the atrocities committed against China's Uyghur population. Now, the proposed deal is not without controversy, with critics saying that China's

China will likely balk on their enforcement obligations if the Biden administration continues to make statements that are viewed as critical of the CCP and Xi. Critics of the agreement are also asking why the U.S. would lift sanctions, essentially throwing China an economic life raft due to their record of human rights abuses. Look, it's a good thing to have dialogue, particularly with a main adversary and competitor. The current level of communication between the two nations is is not healthy for U.S. national security or global stability. You would think that in an increasingly intertwined world, the U.S. president and the leader of China would have,

I don't know, regular quarterly direct conversations, and that the two leading militaries would have a consistent and regular back and forth between key command structures in order to ensure wires don't get crossed, and issues can be quickly de-conflicted. The reality is that while the U.S. and Chinese economies are interdependent. The national interests of the two nations, well, they rarely intersect. So while we need better and more frequent dialogue, the White House, no matter who was in charge, needs to maintain a pragmatic view of China's leadership. Xi is not a benevolent

leader working for the global community good. Xi is not interested in climate change. Xi will do what is necessary to keep the CCP in power. And now, right now, the biggest threat to Xi's hold on power is the fraying Chinese economy. So, acting in his own best interest, Xi will engage in dialogue with the U.S. He'll sit with President Biden today, and he'll probably talk about his fondness for America and the American people. He might even mention the tractor. When we come back, I'll put some context behind the standoff at Gaza's Al-Sheifa Hospital,

and we'll take a look at the latest dissent within the Biden administration over white-house. support for Israel. 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. How many discounts does USAA auto insurance offer? Too many to say here.

Multi-vehicle discount, safe driver discount, new vehicle discount, storage discount, legacy. How many discounts will you stack up? Tap the banner or visit usa.com slash auto discounts. Restrictions apply. Welcome back. Let's focus now on the Gaza Strip. We're a days-long standoff at Al-Shefa Hospital, between the Israeli defense forces and Hamas ended today as the IDF announced that it initiated a military operation against Hamas elements in a section of the hospital. According to the Israeli military, troops launched a, quote, precise and targeted operation against Hamas in a specified area in the Shifa Hospital. Now, I want to explain why this particular hospital is the focus

of so much of the IDF's attention. But for those of you who are unfamiliar with it, Al-Shifa, is Gaza's largest and best-equipped hospital. It's a 700-bed, modern medical facility, and according to those on the ground, it's no longer functioning. Doctors there report a critical shortage of fuel leading to dire consequences for the hospital's patients. Now, Israel maintains it is allowing patients and medical staff to be evacuated from the hospital, but Hamas claims that those who attempt to leave are being fired upon. Now, it's up to you to decide whether you believe the Hamas claims, whether you believe that the Israeli military is shooting at patients attempting to leave the hospital. Call me a cynic, but I really don't believe any claims made by a

terrorist organization. So, again, why this hospital? Well, Israel has long asserted that Al-Sheifa has a history of being used for military purposes, even referring to it as the de facto headquarters for Hamas. They allege that the terror group has constructed a vast underground command center beneath al-Sheifa, linked by a web of tunnels. Now, these aren't idle rumors or conjecture. The use of al-Sheifa by Hamas is well documented. For example, according to Human Rights Watch, the group fired at its fatah rivals from within the hospital compound during the Palestinian Civil War back in 2007, and a 2014 Amnesty International report cited evidence of Hamas torturing and killing prisoners inside the Shifa hospital.

The claim is also supported by U.S. intelligence agencies. A U.S. official with knowledge of American intelligence has confirmed that Hamas operates a command center under al-Sheifa, adding that Hamas diverts fuel intended for the hospital and that its fighters regularly cluster in and around a complex. Hamas' practice of utilizing civilian infrastructure, like hospitals and schools, for military purposes, has been documented in the past and certainly in recent days. This week, the IDF invited reporters from CNN to the Al-Ranthisi Children's Hospital, which they claim served as a Hamas armory. In the hospital's basement, the IDF found an array of weapons, including suicide vests, grenades, AK-47s, explosive devices, RPGs, and more. And again, this is all stored underneath a children's hospital. Additionally, rooms equipped with furniture curtains, makeshift bathrooms,

and ventilation pipes were discovered, indicating that the basement may have been used to house hostages. Now, just like El Shifa, the IDF found a subterranean tunnel system beneath this Children's Hospital. While Hamas continues to deny that they use civilian infrastructure for their command centers and ammunition and weapons armories, Hamas sources have confirmed that the video shown by the IDF was in fact taken in the Children's Hospital. Okay. I wanted to return to the story of the growing internal dissent within the Biden administration of the White House's handling of Israel's military campaign in Gaza. You remember that yesterday, we reported on a State Department dissent memo which carried the signatures of 100 employees.

The memo accused President Biden of misrepresenting facts about the Israel-Homaz conflict and implicated Israel in committing war crimes. It's now evident that this dissentures, extent extends beyond the State Department. Over 500 political appointees and staff members from around 40 government agencies or so, including high-profile ones like the National Security Council, the FBI, and the Justice Department are now expressing their discontent as well. These individuals sent a letter to President Biden on Tuesday, openly protesting his support of Israel in its conflict with Gaza. The letter makes a strong appeal to President Biden, urging him to actively seek an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and to push Israel to allow humanitarian aid

into the territory. The letter states, quote, we call on President Biden to urgently demand a ceasefire and a call for de-escalation of the current conflict by securing the immediate release of the Israeli hostages and arbitrarily detained Palestinians, the restoration of water, fuel, electricity and other basic services and the passage of adequate humanitarian aid to the Gaza strip. Now, those who signed the dissent letter did so anonymously, which on the one hand doesn't seem particularly brave, while on the other seems to indicate that they're concerned about job security. Now, some staffers who signed the letter spoke with NBC News about their angst. One reportedly said, quote, I've heard it expressed among staffers of all levels that they

feel a lack of guidance for how to talk about this, how to manage people suffering because of this. They added, and I'm not making this up, quote, a lot of people feel quite alone and frustrated. Okay, well, I'm sorry, but I can't resist quoting another descending staffer. This one said, quote, a lot of us are political appointees who serve at the pleasure of the president, and lot of us came from his campaign, so there's this uneasy feeling of not agreeing with what we're working on." End quote. Well, as they say, one way to improve morale is to fire all the unhappy people. Coming up in the back of the brief, we'll dive into the urgent evacuation of a small town as Iceland braces for a potential volcanic eruption. I'll be right back. In today's back of

the brief. We'll turn to the small Icelandic fishing town of Grindovic, which right now looks as if it's on the edge of hell itself. Iceland has declared a state of emergency and nearly 4,000 residents are being urged to evacuate. Now, this urgent action comes as authorities anticipate the imminent eruption of the... No, I'm not even going to try to pronounce that. Nobody should be stringing that many consonants together. Suffice it to say, it's a very volcano with a name on the country's southwestern peninsula. Now Grindivik and its surrounding region have been rocked by at least 800 small quakes, signaling that a volcanic eruption may be just around the corner. Adding to the alarm, massive cracks are appearing throughout the town, notably a nine-mile-long

river of magma is running beneath the peninsula, cutting directly through Grindovic. The Icelandic Med Office is reporting increased levels of sulfur dioxide in the area, making it extremely hazardous, even deadly, for those still in the town. Evacuated residents describe hearing unholy sounds from beneath the earth and feeling seasick due to the constant tremors. So what happens if the volcano erupts? Well, experts believe that most likely the eruption will be small, with the magma flows beneath the town cooling and hardening without ever breaking the surface. One pressing concern, however, involves the, nope, again not going to try to pronounce that. It's a power plant with a name, a geothermal station located just over six

kilometers from Grindivik. In response to the looming threat, authorities on Tuesday rushed to construct a defensive wall to shield it from potential lava flows. Now, this may be too much information. But diving back in time, back in 2010, I happened to be in Paris when another Icelandic volcano, also with an unpronounceable name consisting of 16 letters randomly thrown together by a nation that is clearly having us on, it erupted violently as well. I had flown to Paris for a meeting with plans to be there only overnight. Unfortunately, the volcanic eruption grounded over 100,000 flights and stranded millions of travelers worldwide. I was one of them, and I spent the next eight days stuck in Paris. I know that sounds like an odd complaint, but being stranded in one of

the world's most romantic cities by yourself, going out to restaurants alone and eating, okay, admittedly really excellent food while watching couples chat and canoodle at nearby tables, having to call home every day and say, no flight, honey, still stuck here in this miserable city, maybe tomorrow. It wears on a fella. So that there is my Icelandic volcano story. And that, my friends, is the president's daily brief for Wednesday, 15 November. If you have any questions or comments, reach out to me at pdb at thefirsttv.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. Starting a business can seem like a daunting task, unless you have a partner like Shopify. They have the tools you need to start and grow your business. From designing a website to marketing, to selling and beyond, Shopify can help with everything you need.

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