The President's Daily Brief - November 17th, 2023: Atomic Ambitions, Menacing Missiles, & Domestic Discord

Episode Date: November 17, 2023

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief:   Alarming findings from UN nuclear watchdogs about Iran’s burgeoning nuclear capabilities and the implications for global security.   Tension escalates in the Red Sea as a US warship responds to a drone attack from Yemen.   A new development from Russia as it advances its arsenal with a hypersonic missile, setting a formidable challenge for US defense.   In our Back of the Brief segment, the spotlight turns to domestic unrest, with an account of pro-Palestinian protesters targeting the DNC headquarters in a surge of violence.   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

As the crispy chicken sandwich from 7-Eleven, people always call me loud. And I'm like, yeah, I know. I'm crispy. Did you expect me to whisper? If you want quiet, go eat some soup and reflect. Like, I know I'm a handful. I'm bold, I'm juicy. Throw some pickles and barbecue sauce on me, and baby, I'm a whole meal.

And with seven rewards, I'm just $4. Quiet. No. Krispy, saucy, and $4? Very. Only at 711. Valley 362326, participating stores only while supplies lastly out for full terms. It's Friday, November 17th.

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, UN Nuclear Watchdogs release a chilling report about the rapid expansion of Iran's nuclear program. Later in the episode, Yemeni rebels targeted a U.S. warship in the Red Sea. And apparently, if it's Friday, it must be Nuke Day. has started loading nuclear-capable missiles into its silos.

Finally, in the back of the brief, violence escalates on U.S. streets as pro-Palestinian protesters attacked the headquarters of the DNC. That's the Democratic National Committee. But first up, the PDP Spotlight. I wanted to kick off today's program by diving into a report that's setting off alarm bells across the globe. The International Atomic Energy Agency, or IAEA for short, has just dropped a bombshell about Iran's nuclear program. Yet, you see what I did there? It's a little levity. It's always appropriate when discussing nuclear weapons. According to the agency, Iran's stash of enriched uranium has skyrocketed over the past several months.

To be more precise, its stockpile has swelled to 22 times the maximum limit set by the 2015 nuclear deal, which of course is no longer in effect. Now, the agency's findings are particularly concerning because they show Iran is not just increasing quantity, but also purity, amassing uranium enriched to 60 percent. That level is a crucial step closer to the 90 percent enrichment needed for weapons-grade material. At this point, the material that Iran has stockpiled could, if further refined, provide enough fuel for an estimated three nukes. U.S. officials are now estimating that it could take Iran under two weeks to produce sufficient weapons-grave material for a bomb should it choose to do so.

Now, the real uncertainty, however, lies in whether Iran has completed the necessary research and development to construct an atomic bomb, and right now, well, that's a question mark that's hanging over international heads. It's worth noting that this uptick in uranium enrichment isn't happening in a vacuum. This report is especially concerning in light of Tehran's recent behavior. Of course, it goes without saying that Iran has become increasingly hostile over the past several months, and if you're a regular listener to this podcast, you'll know that that's an understatement. But in addition to Iran's hostility towards the West, it's also been increasingly resistant to the United Nations efforts to monitor its nuclear progress. Back in September,

In September, Iran barred around a third of the IAEA's most experienced inspectors from overseeing key sites in the country and dismantled key surveillance or monitoring equipment used by the IAEA. This standoff leaves Iran on the precipice of becoming a full-fledged nuclear state. Now, that's a situation with no apparent diplomatic resolution on the horizon. There undoubtedly will be folks lamenting the fact. that the U.S. withdrew from the 2015 agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or JCPOA, because, well, because Washington never met a title that they couldn't turn into an

acronym. But before engaging in too much limitation, that 2015 Iran deal, well, it was flawed. The IAEA did not have the ability to inspect or monitor key relevant sites, and that's because Iran insisted that those sites be kept out of the agreement, meaning we did not have a 100% verification. All right. When we come back, a U.S. warship takes decisive action in the Red Sea shooting down at your many drone amid rising tensions. Plus, Russia preps for a nuclear capable hypersonic missile poised to challenge U.S. missile defense systems. I'll be right back. Kayak gets my flight, hotel, and rental car right, so I can tune out travel advice that's just plain wrong.

Bro, Skycoin, way better than points. Never fly during a Scorpio full moon. Just tell the manager you'll sue. Instant room upgrade. Stop taking bad travel advice. Start comparing hundreds of sites with kayak. And get your trip right. Kayak, got that right.

This episode is brought to you by Planet Oat Oak Milk. Some people like their coffee hot, some like it ice cold. But everyone can agree, Planet Oat is made for every cup, delivering the perfect pour. rich, smooth, and delicious every time. Try several varieties, like Planet Oak barista-lovers oat milk. It's great for frothing and steaming and will upgrade your at-home coffee. Whether you're team hot or team iced, discover your favorite oat milk at planetoat.com. Welcome back.

We return to our coverage of Iranian-backed militant groups operating throughout the Middle East and their provocative attacks on U.S. forces. Today, we learned that a drone originating in Yemen was shining. down by a Navy warship operating in the Red Sea on Wednesday as it flew in the direction of the vessel. A Pentagon official confirmed the attempted attack on the USS Thomas Hudder. That's an Arlie Burke class destroyer, but they did not elaborate on who was responsible. Now, given the timing, we have an educated guess. The incident came just a few days after Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen threatened to strike U.S. ships operating in the Red Sea. Now unsurprisingly,

the Iranian foreign minister was quick to deny any involvement by his government in the attack, despite the fact that they sponsor and help support the Houthi militants in Yemen. As we know, however, the IRGC has been escalating tensions with U.S. forces for weeks now in the wake of the Israel-Palestine conflict through their various proxy groups, including the Houthi militants in Yemen. On October 19th, for example, a barrage of missiles fired from Yemen was shot down by the USS Carney over the Red Sea as they headed towards Israel. In another provocation on November 9th, Houthi militants successfully shot down a U.S. MQ9

Reaper drone operating over international waters. Meanwhile, American forces in Iraq and Syria have been repeatedly targeted with attacks by Iranian-backed militias in the region. Now, at last count, there have been some 60 missile and drone attacks responsible for injuring at least 59 U.S. service members. The Biden administration has responded with three separate counterstrikes on facilities in Syria linked to the militias and the IRGC. And as we've discussed on the PDB, these responses appear to have done little, well, let's say nothing, to deter Iran and their proxies, and the continued attacks raise further questions regarding the U.S. strategy to contain the Israel-Palestine conflict.

The Biden administration has so far been reluctant to respond more aggressively over fears of sparking a wider war. But the Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and others in the administration have stated that in terms of a response to these ongoing attacks, the U.S. will respond in a manner and at a time of their choosing. Moving our focus to Russia, we're seeing indications of increased activity regarding the Putin regime's nuclear program, and the latest sign that U.S.-Russia relations are deteriorating to levels really not seen since the Cold War. A rather ominous broadcast from a state-run media outlet Thursday showed an intercontinental ballistic missile fitted with a nuclear-capable avant-garde hypersonic glide vehicle being transported

and loaded into a silo in the Orenberg region near Kazakhstan. The avant-garde hypersonic glide vehicle, which Russia claims is, quote, impossible to intercept, was first announced by the Putin regime in 2018, and they claim represents the cutting edge of missile technology. The advanced delivery system has a reported range of roughly 3,728 miles. It detaches from the ICBM after it's carried to a suborbital altitude and can reportedly move at up to 27 times the speed of sound while also being maneuverable, obviously creating a problem for air defense systems. Now, Russia has largely blamed the U.S. for the proliferation of these next-generation weapons, saying the development came in response to the U.S. withdrawing from the anti-ballistic missile treaty or ABM back in 2002.

Putin claims that the country feared they would fall behind the U.S. and weapons technology if they did not act. Well, I'm surprised that Putin would throw the blame at the U.S. I mean, normally he's pretty magnanimous. Now, it's completely disingenuous of Putin to state that he's only developing hypersonic weapons because the U.S. pulled out of a treaty. The truth is, Russia, China, and the U.S. have been working on developing hypersonic weapons for years. A massive advantage of a hypersonic weapon is its maneuverability. Now, a traditional ballistic missile for which current air defense systems were built to counteract, that it has a predictable trajectory. The speed and maneuverability of a hypersonic glide vehicle or weapon gives it the ability to defeat current defense systems,

thus the race by the world's main powers to develop the technology. The latest report on Russian missile capabilities comes as relations between the U.S. and Russia basically have reached new lows. As we discussed last week on the BDB, the U.S. and its NATO allies announced that they will suspend their participation in the conventional armed forces in Europe treaty or CFE, on December 7th, after Russia formally withdrew from the agreement on November 7th. As a refresher, the CFE limits the number of troops, tanks, artillery, and aircraft that either side could deploy into Eastern Europe.

Now, just a week earlier, Russia withdrew their ratification of a nuclear test ban treaty. And those developments came on the heels of the disintegration of another landmark arms control agreement from the Cold War era back in February, when Putin formally suspended Russia's last remaining nuclear arms treaty with the U.S. All right, after that cheery news, coming up in the back of the brief, a pro-Palestine riot outside of the DNC leaves Democratic lawmakers shaken. I'll be right back. USAA knows dynamic duos can save the day, like superheroes and sidekicks or auto and home insurance.

With USAA, you can bundle your auto and home and save up to 10. 10%. Tap the banner to learn more and get a quote at usaa.com slash bundle. Restrictions apply. This is Euphoria Calvin Klein, the new elixir collection featuring three perfum 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. In today's back of the brief, I want to take a closer look at some heated events in the U.S. This week, a pro-Palestinian demonstration escalated and turned into a riot outside the Democratic National Committee headquarters. The protest, which started out as a candlelight vigil for peace, took a turn when demonstrators clashed with capital. police. The incident coincided with a campaign reception inside the building, attended by a number of prominent Democratic lawmakers, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Now, according to witnesses and police, about 150 protesters were trying to block the building's entrances and exits in an attempt to trap the lawmakers inside. California Congressman Brad Sherman took to social media to report that

protesters eventually tried to force their way into the building. When police arrived in force, the situation quickly became violent. Some lawmakers had to be evacuated while demonstrators were pepper-spraying them. Capital police have confirmed that six officers sustained minor injuries and one protester was arrested for assaulting an officer. Yeah, a demonstration turned violent, six officers sustained injuries, and the result is, well, one protester is arrested. Now, apparently, the unrest has left an impact on those Democrats of the DNC who are inside

the besieged building, with a House Democrat admitting to Axios that the night's events, quote, scared me more than January 6th, end quote. After the past few weeks, look, it's obvious that the Democrat Party has a problem. The Democratic Socialist Party of America and other progressive groups are fueling, funding, and encouraging these protests, which much of America sees as anti-Semitic and pro-Hamas. At the same time, the party is watching dissatisfaction grow within the Arab-American community and among young voters over Biden's stance on the conflict. These protests aren't just springing up spontaneously, as we've discussed previously on the PDB.

Someone is paying for the mass-produced protest signs, and the rows of porta-potties at the demonstration sites and transportation. Others are orchestrating social media campaigns to drive the same narrative that Hamas uses. It's all Israel's fault, and by association, the fault of the U.S. Now, objective and curious journalists, if there are any, would work to determine to what degree Hamas, Iran, China, and Russia are using their resources to manipulate social media and influence the minds of the folks who show up at these protests and to what degree protest activity is being funded by foreign governments and outside entities. And that, my friends, is the President's Daily Brief for Friday 17 November.

If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me at pdb at thefirsttv.com. I'm Mike Baker. 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, 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.