The President's Daily Brief - PDB Afternoon Bulletin | January 5th, 2026: Iran’s Supreme Leader Is Planning To Flee Tehran & Ukraine’s Power Shakeup

Episode Date: January 5, 2026

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: First up— stunning new reporting suggests Ali Khamenei is already planning an escape route out of Iran as nationwide protests enter their ninth straight day—an extraordinary signal of growing concern at the very top of the regime. Later in the show— a major shakeup at the highest levels of power in Ukraine, as President Volodymyr Zelensky taps military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov to run his presidential office, prioritizing battlefield experience amid mounting pressure for a peace deal. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President’s Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com.  Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Goldbelly: Discover iconic meals from legendary restaurants delivered nationwide with Goldbelly—get 20% off your first order at https://Goldbelly.comusing promo code PDB. PDS Debt: You’re 30 seconds away from being debt free with PDS Debt. Get your free assessment and find the best option for you at https://PDSDebt.com/PDB  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yamava Resort and Casino at San Manuel is California's number one entertainment destination for today's superstars. Catch the Jonas Brothers return to the Yamava Theater stage on April 30th, the powerful vocals of Demi Lovato on May 17th, and the signature Southern Country Rock of Eric Church on July 19th. Tickets on sale now at Yamavat Theater.com, only at Yamava Resort and Casino, celebrating its 40th anniversary. You in? Must be 21 to enter. It's Monday, the 5th of January.

Welcome to the PDB afternoon bulletin. I'm Mike Baker, your eyes and ears on the world stage. All right, let's get briefed. First up, new reporting suggests Iran's supreme leader is already planning an escape route out of the country as nationwide protests enter their ninth straight day. Later in the show, a major shakeup at the top in Ukraine as President Zelensky taps military intelligence chief, Kirillo Budanov, to run his presidential office. But first, today's afternoon spotlight. Here at the PDB, we've been watching developments in Tehran very closely, of course, and new reporting raises serious questions about how confident Iran's leadership is in its ability to maintain control. According to a report from the Times, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khomeini has quietly

plotted an escape route out of the country should his security forces fail to bring the current wave of unrest under control. That report, citing intelligence assessments, says the republic's highest authority has identified Moscow. There's a surprise as a potential destination, an exit option prepared in advance if the situation inside Iran deteriorates beyond repair. Reportedly, he's considering leasing a nice two-bedroom two-bath condo with former exiled Syrian despot Bashar Assad. Okay, I made that up. Assad is already locked into a long-term, one-bedroom, one-bath lease. I believe it's a walk-up.

Now, authoritarian regimes or despotic leaders don't normally plan escape routes when they feel secure. That's a statement of the obvious. They don't game out exile scenarios when they believe their grip on power is firm. Contingency planning of this kind is not routine. It's a signal, one that suggests a great deal of anxiety at the very top of the Iranian system. For years, Iran's leadership has projected an image of absolute control, a state built on fear and surveillance and ruthless enforcement doesn't publicly entertain the idea of failure. But privately, according to this reporting anyway, the Supreme Leader appears to be doing exactly

that. And that brings us to what's happening on the streets across Iran. As we reported earlier today, protests across Iran have now entered their ninth consecutive day, and they show no signs of letting up. Demonstrations have now spread to more than 220 locations across 26 of Iran's 31 province. That's according to the U.S.-based human rights activists' news agency. That means that this is no longer around localized outburst or a short-lived flare-up. It appears to be a nationwide unrest.

To date, Iran's leadership has responded to the protests in familiar fashion. This weekend, Khomeini issued a warning, declaring that what he called, quote, rioters will be, quote, put in their place. That was meant to be a line in the sand, a reminder. to the people of who holds power. But so far, the people, the protesters, well, they haven't stopped. The same reporting indicates that at least 20 people have been killed so far, with more than 990 arrests as security forces attempt to regain control. And yet despite the deaths and despite the arrests and despite the presence of armed security units, the protests continue. And that persistence is the most dangerous development for the regime. Authoritative,

systems depend on exhaustion, on the belief that if they wait long enough or crack down hard enough, people will just go home. But when demonstrations continue day after day, spreading rather than shrinking, well, that's when you start thinking about possible exile plans. Now, Moscow is a natural choice for Chamini. It's become something of a sanctuary for embattled strongmen, leaders who lose control at home, but retain enough value to remain useful abroad. Russian protection has become a final refuge for figures who can no longer safely rule their own countries. Sirius President Bashar al-Assad, of course, offers a clear example of what that kind of political afterlife looks like. Power hollowed out, legitimacy gone, survival depended

on foreign backing. Iran's leadership has spent decades insisting that it would never face that kind of fate, but planning an escape route suggested at least privately that confidence is eroding. And if the protests continue to grow, if security forces fail to restore order, then the question may no longer be whether the regime can intimidate its population into silence, but now long the leaders believe they can stay. Because if things continue on this trajectory, the Supreme Leader may soon discover that his place is no longer at the center of power in Tehran, but in an anonymous apartment somewhere in Moscow, living out the quiet exile of a ruler who finally ran out of options. All right, coming up next, amid mounting pressure over a potential peace deal,

President Zelensky makes a major leadership move by elevating Ukraine's top military intelligence officer to his inner circle. I'll be right back. Hey, Mike Baker here, to tell you about a great company that every food-loving person should know about, and it's called Gold Belly. If you're a foodie, yeah, you're going to love Gold Belly. Let me tell you about them. It's an amazing site that celebrates the best of the U.S.

by shipping the country's most iconic foods from legendary restaurants and chefs straight to your doorstep. Now, I've ordered everything from ribs to brisketes to lobster rolls to Chicago Deep Dish Pizza from Goldbelly, not to mention their amazing desserts. It's incredibly easy. You can check out their site, you click on what you want, and it ships fast and fresh on dry ice. It's that simple. Amazing foods dropped right on your door. Goldbelly brings America's food icons, Philly Cheesesteaks, Franklin Barber,

barbecue, la d'are macarones. How about that for pronunciation? Joe's Casey ribs, Lou Malnati's pizza, even wedding cakes, right to your door. So whether you're looking to turn game day into an unforgettable food experience with friends or you want to impress a loved one on Valentine's Day and who doesn't want to do that, just go to goldbelly.com and get 20% off your first order with the promo code PDB. That's goldbelly.com. Use the promo code PDB for 20% off your first order. Mike Baker here. Now, it's a new year, and of course, New Year is a good time for a fresh start, right? And for many, well, that can mean becoming debt-free. How about that for a fresh start? The problem is,

if you're in debt, well, it can seem like the financial system is built for banks to win and for you to lose. Well, I want to tell you about a great company out there that's changing that equation. They're called PDS debt. Now, PDS debt has helped hundreds of thousands crush credit card and loan and medical debt with custom plans, and there's no credit score minimum. They've got an A-plus rating from the Better Business Bureau, which, of course, is very important. It's simple, it's effective, it's no nonsense. If you're in need of debt relief, just check it out. Head on over to PDS debt. Honestly, waiting just pads the profits of the banks, so don't wait. Get your free personalized assessment and check out the best options for you at PDSdebt.com slash PDB. That's pDSdebt.com

be. Now's the time to save on new carpet at the Home Depot. Receive 10% off your total carpet project and 12 months special financing. Plus, we'll measure your space for free. Choose from a variety of stylish, on-trend options fit for everyday life with life-proof, life-proof with pet-proof technology, home decorators collection, and traffic master carpets. Save 10% and get 12 months special financing. Now at the Home Depot. Offer valid April 16th through May 3, 2006. Exclusions apply for licenses. See Home Depot.com slash license numbers. Who cares about your poops? Ollie does.

That's why Ali's science-backed gut health lineup helps support your family's regularity. From daily probiotics to fibergummies, your kiddos will love. Find it all on ali.com. That's O-L-L-Y.com. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Welcome back to the afternoon bulletin. Ukrainian President Zelensky launched a major political shakeup in Kiev, overhauling his national security leadership amid mounting pressure over how the war ends and who should govern. Now, this wasn't a routine shuffle or a quiet adjustment behind closed doors. Zelensky is replacing his defense minister and making Karillo Budanov, the country's popular military intelligence chief, his new head of the office of the president. That's a position similar

to the White House's chief of staff. In his nightly address, Zelensky said that the overhaul, in his inner circle was needed to prepare the country for what comes next. But the logic is hard to miss. The war may not be over, but the end game is already being discussed, and that means the balance of power in Kiev matters just as much as the balance of forces on the front lines. Budnov's elevation fills the vacuum left by the resignation of Andrei Yermak, who, you may remember was Zelensky's long-time chief of staff and lead peace negotiator. He stepped down back in November amid a massive corruption scandal. By bringing Budinov into the presidential office, Zelensky moves Ukraine's most prominent spymaster directly into the center of political power. It's a decision that lands at the

intersection of prioritizing military strategy and domestic politics, especially as discussions grow louder about the prospect of elections in Ukraine if fighting can be halted. I want to point out that there's also a quieter political subtext here. Budenov has long been viewed as a potential rival to Zelenskyy. and the presidential election. So instead of leaving a powerful figure outside the system, Zelensky has brought him inside, a move that reduces the risk of internal competition as Ukraine edges closer to a political reckoning. Zolensky later underscored that logic, saying Ukraine needs a sharper focus on security issues and defense development and diplomacy. He posted on X, quote, Carrillo has specialized experience in these areas and sufficient strength to deliver results.

Budanov accepted the appointment, calling it, quote, an honor at a historic time for Ukraine. And it's Washington that looms large in this decision as well. Budanov has deep ties with the U.S., having been trained in a CIA-backed program, and later treated at Walter Reed National Medical Center after being wounded in combat. That relationship carries added weight, as the Trump administration shapes a potential peace deal. According to a Ukrainian official familiar with the deliberations, Zelensky settled on Budanov after recent talks with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, concluding he needed a top aid with credibility in Washington and European capitals to steer the peace

process forward. Inside the government, Budanov is expected to press for greater emphasis on asymmetric warfare, such as sabotage and deception and the creative use of emerging technologies, the tools that defined his tenure at Ukraine's military intelligence directorate. Budanov also serves as a rare back-channel negotiator, maintaining limited contact with Russian counterparts. All of this comes as the latest peace proposal calls for Ukraine to hold elections as soon as possible after a ceasefire is signed. Zelensky says he's open to elections but says peace must come first, and that's something that Moscow has long refused to agree to. As for Zelensky's political future, he's not said whether he would run again. but by reshaping his inner circle and by drawing Budenov into the heart of presidential power,

he moves to shape Ukraine's political future. And that, my friends, is the PDB afternoon bulletin for Monday, the 5th of January. If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me at PDB at thefirsttv.com. And, of course, to listen to the show ad-free, that is simple. Just become a premium member of the president's daily brief by visiting PDB Premium.com. Told you it was simple. I'm Mike Baker, and I'll be back tomorrow. Until then, stay informed.

Stay safe. Stay cool. 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 sitewide. Huge savings on special buys, plus a free professional measure now during the spring Cyber Monday sale. Rules and restrictions apply.