The President's Daily Brief - September 10th, 2024: Ukraine’s Faltering Front, Polish Sabotage Foiled, & Trump vs. Kamala

Episode Date: September 10, 2024

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief:   We examine Russia’s ongoing push in eastern Ukraine. While Ukrainian forces continue their offensive into the Russian region of Kursk, Russian troops are steadily advancing, creating an increasingly dire situation for Ukrainian soldiers on the front lines. Following warnings from the CIA and MI6 about Russian sabotage efforts, Polish security forces have announced they’ve dismantled a covert sabotage group tied to Russia and Belarus, allegedly plotting to destabilize Poland. Plus, the latest from the Gaza war as negotiators express doubts over reaching a phased hostage-ceasefire agreement with Hamas, labeling the chances as "close to zero." And in today's Back of the Brief, we preview tonight’s big debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. 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.   Email: [e-mail] ☕ Blackout Coffee: https://www.blackoutcoffee.com/PDB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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for giving me the deal. Additional Terms, Conditions, and Restrictions, You want to start your day off right. Well, it's simple. First, what you do is wake up, right? Then get yourself a coffee mug. And then, and here's the important part, pour yourself a cup or two of delicious Blackout Coffee. Blackout Coffee is family owned, and they're all about premium coffee, fresh roasted and shipped out within 48 hours of roasting. Go to blackout coffee.com, promo code PDB, for 20% off your first time purchase. It's Tuesday, 10 September. 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 off today's show by examining Russia's ongoing offensive in eastern Ukraine.

Now, while Ukrainian forces continue their offensive into the Russian region of Kyrsk, Russian troops are steadily advancing on the eastern front of Ukraine, creating an increasingly difficult situation for Ukraine. soldiers on the front lines. Later in the brief, following warnings from the CIA and MI6 about Russian sabotage efforts, Polish security forces have announced that they've dismantled a covert sabotage group tied to Russia and Belarus, which was allegedly plotting to destabilize Poland. Plus, the latest from the Gaza War, as negotiators expressed doubts over reaching a phased hostage ceasefire agreement with Hamas, labeling the chances as, quote, close to zero. Well, while it's depressingly negative in terms of its assessment, at least for once they're

being honest and forthcoming with the public. And in today's back of the brief, I'll preview tonight's big debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Trump. You may have heard something about this. The two candidates will face off in a debate hosted by ABC News with rules similar to the rules that govern the earlier debate between Trump and the previous candidate, you might remember him, President Biden. But first, today's PDB spotlight. I want to begin our coverage with the latest from the battlefields of Ukraine, where Keeb's front lines are faltering in the eastern Donbass as Russia gains ground and presses forward with their offensive. As we've been tracking on the PDB, Russian forces have been on the march in eastern Ukraine in recent week. as they close in on the city of Pogrovsk, that's a crucial logistics hub that connects several key cities in Ukraine's defensive arc in the Dhenzsk region.

Now, on Saturday, the village of Kalinov became the latest to fall into Russian hands. That's according to a report from Reuters. Kalinov is relatively small with a population of just 200, but its capture will allow Russian forces to fortify their position to the southeast of Pagrowski. The Russian military followed that up on Sunday by capturing the much larger village of Novo Rodivka in the eastern Donetsk region. That's a town of roughly 14,000 that sits less than 13 miles from the heart of Pogrovsk. Now, we should note that the rapid gains are coming at a major price to the Russian military, a price that Putin, frankly, always appears happy to pay.

Ukrainian soldiers on the current front lines in Donbass, an area they've dubbed the kill zone, say Russian forces will throw hordes of soldiers at Ukraine's defensive positions, sacrificing scores to overwhelm and dislodge a single Ukrainian unit. That's according to a report from the economist. In one example, a soldier described 18 Russian troops being used to drive two worn-out Ukrainian troops from their position. Many of the Russian soldiers died to secure that position, but their forces ultimately advanced.

On the Ukrainian side, the losses have also been, well, Let's use the word staggering. One soldier said that a recent reinforcement of inexperienced infantrymen sent to fortify the front lines were completely wiped out, telling the economist, quote, over three days, 100 became zero. Another Ukrainian soldier told the economist, quote, we are exchanging lives and territory for time and the opponent's resources. Look at that.

It's World War I all over again. The situation on the front lines in eastern Ukraine is growing bleaker by the day, Russian forces, estimated to be in the tens of thousands, are now just six miles outside of Pukrovsk. While the city began evacuations weeks ago, many remain and are now facing relentless attacks from Russian forces, who are bombarding the city with ballistic missiles, multiple rocket launchers, guided bombs, and artillery. Over the past week, Ukrainian reinforcements have reportedly managed to stabilize their westernmost lines, but troops on the ground warn that Russian forces have regrouped along a wider front. If the Russian assault proves effective and

Pogrovsk eventually falls, Russia would be able to cut off one of the Ukrainian military's main supply routes in the region and give Russia effective control of nearly the entire Dunetsk region. That's a primary objective for Moscow since the war began. As a reminder, Russia already holds an estimated 18% of Ukrainian territory. Moscow's gains follow Ukraine's successful incursion into Russia's Kursk region on August 6th, where their forces have since captured some 500 square miles of Russian territory. While the move has been a morale boost for Ukrainians, critics said it strained their resources and personnel, leaving the villages and supply routes near Pukovsk vulnerable to Russian forces. For his part, Putin said last Thursday

that Ukraine's incursion failed to halt Russia's advances into eastern Ukraine and, instead. Instead, overstretched Kiev's defenses. Officials in Kiev have not yet commented on the Russian advances, but troops on the ground told the economist that they are hopeful that Ukraine's mobilization of reinforcements to the region last Friday can help stall Russia's offensive. All right, coming up after the break, Polish security forces dismantle a covert sabotage group linked to Russia and Belarus following warnings from the CIA and MI6. and the latest on the Gaza war, as negotiators cast doubt on a potential hostage-sease-fire deal with Hamas.

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stains and odors. And it's gentle on the skin. It's a powerful clean you can feel good about. So go on. Pick up a bottle of All Free Clear for your next laundry day. Welcome back to the PDB. Shifting our attention to the Putin regime's ongoing shadow war against Europe, Authorities in Poland have neutralized a massive Russian sabotage operation aimed at blackmailing senior officials into curtailing support for Ukraine. Poland's deputy prime minister, who revealed the scheme on Monday, said the operatives worked out of Belarus in coordination with their allies in Moscow to infiltrate local and central government institutions,

including state-owned companies overseeing military contracts, that's according to a report from Reuters. The saboteurs, allegedly, sought to state, steal data to facilitate blackmail against senior officials, particularly those at logistics companies in charge of weapons deliveries to Ukraine. Leaders in Poland condemned the operation, of course, but said the prompt action of their security services ultimately stopped the scheme. Poland's deputy prime minister said, quote, the Belarusian and Russian foreign services had a specific goal to extort information to

blackmail individuals and institutions and to wage a de facto cyber war. end quote. Officials said it was just the latest in a long line of attempts by Russia to destabilize Poland over their steadfast military support of Ukraine. They noted that cyber attacks against Polish institutions and companies linked to the war in Ukraine have more than doubled over the past year. The Deputy Prime Minister warned, quote, in cyberspace, dangers come every hour, every minute. It often happens that there are over a thousand incidents in a day, end quote. Now, Poland has also been subject to physical sabotage and arson attacks by Russian operatives and sympathizers as part of a campaign by the Kremlin to divide Polish society. Furthermore, officials alleged that Russian secret

services are actively attempting to acquire sensitive intelligence on Poland's weapons deliveries to Ukraine. The incident comes just two days after an op-ed published in the Financial Times by the heads of the CIA and MI6 warned that Russia is waging a campaign of sabotage against allies of Ukraine across Western Europe. As we discussed on Monday's PDB, while the op-ed of voided specifics, the intelligence heads were referring to the wave of mysterious sabotage, arson attacks, and targeted assassination plots that we've seen escalate across Europe over the past year. It also follows the Biden administration's sweeping crackdown last week on Kremlin-backed attempts to interfere in the U.S. presidential election. FBI documents released as part of

those actions revealed that in addition to their activity in the U.S., Russia is targeting politicians, business people, journalists, and social media influencers in Western Europe as part of an influence operation designed to erode support for Ukraine and to divide Europe's population against each other. All right. Shifting our focus to the Middle East, where the negotiations between Israel and Hamas have reached an impasse, leading Israeli negotiators to report a near zero chance of success. According to an Israeli Channel 12 report, a senior negotiator informed hostage families that chances for a first phase of the proposed agreement at six-week seats fire during which around 30 hostages consisting of women, children, and elderly hostages would

be released, have all but evaporated. The core issue remains Prime Minister Netanyahu's demand for Israel Defense Forces' control of the Philadelphia Corridor. And that's a point not included in the proposal, which was originally presented back in May. The Israeli finance minister is also speaking out against any deal, which called for Israel's withdrawal from that Philadelphia corridor. The ministering called instead for a, quote, surrender deal where Hamas is disarmed and expelled from Gaza. The Channel 12 report underscored a, quote, broad pessimism among Israeli negotiators.

One senior official stated, quote, the only way forward is to end the war, urging the Israeli public to back efforts aimed at concluding the conflict. Meanwhile, Biden administration efforts to secure a hostage release and ceasefire are continuing to little effect. As Israeli and Hamas positions harden, the White House's diplomatic efforts are hitting a wall, particularly following the brutal killing of six hostages in Gaza, including American citizen Hirsch-Goldberg, Poland. Top U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and CIA, director Bill Burns discussed the possibility of presenting a new proposal to advance negotiations. However, other officials suggest a new plan is not imminent. One U.S. official admitted,

quote, it's a rough period. We're still working, but we're not about to present anything imminently. Still, the U.S. continues to work behind the scenes with Qatar and Egypt, hoping to create a more detailed proposal. Despite these efforts, the gap between the two sides, well, it remains wide. focus has shifted to whether Egypt and Qatar can pressure Hamas chief Yaya Sinwar to soften his demands. Back in Israel, tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets, accusing Netanyahu of sacrificing the lives of hostages by insisting on control of the Philadelphia Corridor. The demonstrators argue that Netanyahu's inflexibility is allowing hostages to die unnecessarily. On Sunday, during a cabinet meeting, Netanyahu responded to growing calls for a ceasefire.

fire, warning that such efforts aligned with Hamas' strategy to, quote, tear us apart from the inside. And, frankly, in that assessment, well, he's not wrong. Netanyahu referenced a document from the German tabloid build attributed to Hamas chief Yaya Sima, reportedly advising Hamas to apply, quote, psychological pressure on hostage families to manipulate Israeli public opinion. Nanjahu assured, quote, the vast majority of Israeli citizens aren't falling for this trap. Netanyahu's message remains clear. While securing the release of hostages is a priority, Israel's broader objectives remain unchanged,

eliminate Hamas, return all hostages, and ensure Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israeli security. All right, coming up in the back of the brief, a preview of tonight's debate between Vice President Harris and former President Trump. I'll be right back. In today's back of the brief, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Trump,

will face off for the first time at the 2024 presidential debate this evening, each hoping to sway undecided voters as Election Day approaches. A New York Times-Syenne College poll shows that Trump leads Harris 48% to 47% within the poll's three-point margin of error. These results mirror a similar poll from late July. Now, the national data aligns with polling in battleground states, despite a surge of enthusiasm for Harris in media. coverage, and among hardline Democrats, it appears Trump's base remains solid. So, where do the candidates

land on the issues? Remember those issues? Those pesky issues? Well, when it comes to immigration, Harris faces criticism for her handling of the border crisis as vice president, particularly the record number of crossings. Her campaign strategy appears to focus on tackling the root causes of migration and opposes family separation policies. She's also working to distance herself from any responsibility over the past few years for the record number of illegal migrants entering the country.

Now, Trump vows to restore his strict immigration policies, including reinstating remain in Mexico, ending catch and release, and deputizing the National Guard and local law enforcement to deport undocumented migrants. He also aims to limit asylum seekers. Harris supports targeted terrorist, and diplomacy for relations with China, aiming to prevent military conflict over Taiwan.

Trump favors broader tariffs, proposing a 10% levy on all imports, especially Chinese goods, to boost domestic manufacturing and reduce reliance. On Israel, Harris aligns with the Biden administration's approach, supporting a two-state solution and temporary ceasefires for humanitarian relief. Trump criticizes the handling of the Israel-Gaza conflict since leaving all. office, claiming the October 7 Hamas attacks wouldn't have happened under his leadership, though he hasn't provided a specific strategy. Harris supports ongoing military aid regarding Ukraine, citing its importance for Keeves' defense

and NATO alliances. Trump, promising to end the war within 24 hours if elected, criticizes the aid as wasteful and proposes offering it as loans. Now, with just over eight weeks remaining until the election, can you imagine that? It's only eight weeks away. It's going to seem like years. Both candidates have little time to shift public opinion. Harris, still relatively unknown to many voters, despite having been vice president for almost four years, faces a challenge in defining her platform, while Trump's support appears more fixed. Now, it's not just American voters that will be watching this debate. U.S. allies and adversaries, of course, will closely analyze the situation. Allies will look for signals on America's global

commitments, including NATO and support for Ukraine, while adversaries, like China and Russia, well, they'll be looking for weakness and lack of resolve. And in reality, the U.S. adversaries already have in-depth profiles built on both candidates. They've got a clear understanding of Trump from his four years as president and a somewhat clear evaluation of Harris based on her track record over the past term as Biden's VP. And that, my friends, is the president's daily brief for Tuesday, 10 September. Now, if you have any questions or comments, please, reach out to me at PDB at thefirsttv.com.

Of course, as if you didn't already know, to listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of the president's daily brief by simply visiting PDB premium.com, and it is really simple. I'm Mike Baker. I'll be back later today with the PDB afternoon bulletin. Until then, stay informed, stay safe, stay cool.

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