PDB Afternoon Bulletin | April 17th, 2025: Trump Calls Off Strike On Iran & Hamas Struggles To Pay Fighters
14:24 Share

Looking to diversify your savings? Well, schedule a free consultation with Birch Gold Group, the precious metals specialist. Look, just text PDB to 989-898 and you'll receive a free no-obligation information kit and learn how to convert an existing IRA or a 401k to a gold IRA. Again, text PDB to the number 989-898.

It's Thursday, the 17th of April. Welcome to the BDB Afternoon Bulletin. I'm Mike Baker, your eyes and ears on the world stage. All right, let's get briefed.

We'll start things off today with new reporting on a major decision from President Trump. A planned Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear facilities was reportedly scrapped after top U.S. officials raised doubts, preferring instead to try and reach a deal with the mullahs on their nuclear program. Later in the show, Hamas isn't just facing military losses in its war with Israel. The group is reportedly in a cash crunch, struggling to pay its fighters.

But first, today's afternoon spotlight. Well, it turns out the U.S. came closer to a potential war with Iran than many realized. According to the New York Times, President Trump recently put the brakes on a planned Israeli strike against Iran's nuclear program after a fierce internal debate within his own administration.

The strike, which could have been launched as soon as next month, would have required significant U.S. military support, and for a while, it looked like Washington might provide it.

Let's start with what Israel had in mind. According to the report, officials in Tel Aviv had drawn up plans for a multi-phase attack aimed at setting back Tehran's nuclear ambitions by a year or more. Initially, they hoped to pair airstrikes with commando raids on underground nuclear sites. But when it became clear that the commando teams wouldn't be ready in time,

Israel pivoted to a broader bombing campaign, one that would have required American aircraft, intelligence, and logistics in order to be successful. And here's where the U.S. comes in.

As we've been reporting here on the PDB, U.S. military assets have been building up across the region for weeks. A second aircraft carrier, missile defense systems, and long-range B-2 bombers were deployed to Diego Garcia, moves that were publicly framed as part of the ongoing conflict with the Houthis in Yemen. But privately, officials now say that the firepower was also about preparing for a potential operation against Iran.

even basing US fighters in Israel was reportedly under consideration. The CIA Director, John Ratcliffe, was dispatched to Jerusalem to sit down with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and the head of Mossad. They discussed various options, including not just direct strikes but covert sabotage operations and tighter sanctions enforcement. But as planning progressed, reportedly, cracks began to show inside the Trump administration.

Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence to DNI, presented a new intelligence assessment warning that military action could spiral into a broader regional war. Her concerns were echoed by top officials, including White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and the Vice President J.D. Vance.

Even National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, normally one of the most hawkish voices on Iran, began questioning whether the Israeli plan could work without massive U.S. involvement. Ultimately, President Trump decided to hold off. According to The Times, he informed Netanyahu during his visit to Washington that the U.S. would not support an attack, at least not while Iran has signaled a willingness, as limited as it may be, to negotiate.

The White House is now pursuing a short-term diplomatic window with Tehran to reach a new nuclear agreement. But while Trump has chosen diplomacy, at least for now, he hasn't ruled anything out. After the Netanyahu meeting, he told reporters, "...if it requires military, we're going to have military. Israel will obviously be the leader of that."

In the meantime, U.S. intelligence and military officials are continuing to work with Israel to weigh other options, including covert action.

So the message from the White House? Well, it's that talks are happening, but time is limited, and the military option is still on the table. Coming up next, reports say Hamas is broke and struggling to pay its operatives, adding a financial crisis to its lengthy series of military setbacks. I'll be right back.

Hey, Mike Baker here. Well, I'm very happy to remind you that it's now grilling season. And I'm also happy to give you this pro tip. I'm about to tell you where you can get the finest beef you can throw on that grill. It's from a classic American business, generations of family raising high quality beef in the great state of Texas. And of course, I'm talking about Tri-Tales Beef.

Now, this isn't some corporate meat factory or some faceless corporation. Tri-Tails is a fifth-generation Texas ranch where cattle are pasture-raised, grain-finished, and raised the right way. They handle the beef on-site and ship it straight to your door. There's no middleman or no mystery. All their beef is sourced to match the genetics and care that they've built their herd on, ensuring consistent marbling, tenderness, and rich flavor in every cut. Small

Small batch, big flavor. You can taste the difference the moment it hits the grill. Whether it's a ribeye, a filet, or New York strip, it's the kind of beef that brings people together. USDA prime and choice, hand-packed and ready for your table. And right now, they've got a special offer just for PDB listeners. Go to trybeef.com slash PDB and get two free flat iron steaks with your first box over $250. That's trybeef.com slash PDB. Support Real Ranchers.

and eat like you mean it. Mike Baker here. Well, tariffs, you may have heard about them recently. They've thrown the global economy into chaos. Potential widespread inflation tied to massive supply chain disruptions, well, it's weighing heavily on all of us. But there's a silver lining that some people might have missed. Well, it's actually silver and gold.

You see, President Trump specifically exempted gold and silver bullion from the sweeping tariffs. And while these new policies are triggering significant financial chaos, the administration preserved your ability to diversify into precious metals. Now, if you're concerned about your savings, I encourage you to have a free consultation with a Birch Gold Precious Metals Specialist. It's simple. The first step is to text PDB to the

to the number 989-898 and receive your free no-obligation information kit on gold. Learn how to hold gold and silver in a tax-sheltered account. Birch Gold will help you convert an existing IRA or a 401k into a gold IRA for no money out of pocket.

Find out why so many Americans trust Birch Gold Group to help protect their savings with gold. With an A-plus rating with the Better Business Bureau and thousands of thankful customers, text PDB to the number 989-898. Again, text PDB to 989-898 to claim your free information kit right now.

Hey, Mike Baker here. Let me ask you a question. How did you choose which internet service provider to use? Well, the sad thing is most of us have, well, very little choice because ISPs operate like monopolies in the regions they serve. They then can use this monopoly power to take advantage of customers. Data caps and bandwidth throttling. Look, nobody needs bandwidth throttling. The list goes on. But worst of all, ISPs have the ability to keep a log of every website you visit.

And so can other third parties, unless you use ExpressVPN. Without ExpressVPN, your internet and network providers can still see every website you visit, even in what's called incognito or private mode. ExpressVPN, they reroute 100% of your traffic through secure encrypted servers, so third parties can't see your browsing history.

ExpressVPN hides your IP address, making it extremely difficult for third parties to track your online activity. And importantly, ExpressVPN works on all devices, phones, laptops, tablets, and more, so you can stay private on the go. They're rated number one by top tech reviewers like CNET and The Verge.

So protect your online privacy today by visiting ExpressVPN.com slash Baker. That's ExpressVPN.com slash Baker, and you can get an extra four months free. ExpressVPN.com slash Baker. Hey, Mike Baker here.

Did you know that 60% of the clothes that we buy end up in a landfill within a year of being made? I know, right? Now, historically, our clothes, well, they were always something that we held on to for a long time, but not anymore. Big apparel companies constantly find ways to make clothes faster and cheaper. They're turning clothes into disposables. Choosing American Giant, though, means taking a stand for hardworking people, local communities,

and quality clothes. Mega corporations obsessed with growth are churning out cheap stuff that lacks quality and durability. American Giant, however, is all about durable, not disposable products. They make clothes built to last. So buying from American Giant is an investment, not just in the clothes, but a community trying to do things the right way.

Look, they believe in a new kind of smart, conscious buying. And that just makes sense to me because small changes, well, they can add up to something big. So check out American Giant today. Get 20% off your first order when you use promo code Baker, that's B-A-K-E-R, at American-Giant.com. That's 20% off when you use code Baker at American-Giant.com.

Welcome back to the Afternoon Bulletin. Hamas's war chest is reportedly drying up fast as Israel's renewed military offensive and tightened aid restrictions have choked off the cash pipelines that once fueled the Iran-backed terror group's ability to pay its fighters and officials. The effects are rippling across the enclave. According to Arab, Israeli, and Western officials,

Salary payments have ceased entirely for many of the Hamas members. At the same time, senior operatives, including those in the political wing, received only half-pay during Ramadan last month. Rank-and-file terror operatives have been hit the hardest, reportedly averaging around just $200 to $300 per month, complicating recruitment efforts and weakening internal cohesion.

This financial unraveling comes after years of stockpiling resources. Before launching the 7 October 2023 terror attacks on Israel, Hamas relied heavily on a mix of foreign aid, most notably $15 million in monthly cash deliveries from Qatar, and domestic income streams that included taxes on commercial goods, customs duties, and the resale of humanitarian aid that it had seized or stole or imported.

It also drew support from fundraising networks stretching as far as West Africa, South Asia, and even the UK, with much of its financial reserve reportedly held in foreign accounts. Well, much of it was pilfered by the top Hamas officials over the years and stuffed in their pockets and their foreign accounts. In recent weeks, the IDF has said it killed a prominent money-changer and several senior Hamas figures involved in salary distribution.

Intelligence officials report that many others have been forced into hiding, disrupting the terror group's courier and checkpoint systems that Hamas historically used to pay its fighters. As one open-source researcher focused on Gaza's economy put it, quote, "...even if they sit on large amounts of cash, their ability to distribute it would be very limited right now. Any attempt to move money through physical means could now, of course, draw direct Israeli retaliation via airstrike." In response,

Hamas has turned to more desperate tactics. In the early weeks of the war, the group reportedly seized up to $180 million from local banks in Gaza, including the Bank of Palestine, and began imposing new fees on Gaza merchants, customs charges on imports, and selling off humanitarian goods that it intercepted. But those measures, well, offered only temporary relief.

During January's ceasefire, Hamas was able to slightly replenish its financial reserves when aid deliveries resumed. That window closed in March, when Israel sealed Gaza's borders and imposed tighter controls on humanitarian shipments.

As we discussed on today's BDB, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed this week that Israel is pursuing a new aid distribution mechanism designed to bypass Hamas entirely by working with vetted civilian partners. Katz defended the blockade as a necessary measure to break what he described as Hamas' model of monetizing humanitarian aid to fuel its war machine.

That monetization, according to Israeli officials, has become so central to Hamas's economic model that military planners are now re-evaluating how aid is screened, not just for security risks, but also for resale value. Even with an estimated $500 million stashed somewhere in Turkey, and as much as $3 billion believed to still be circulating inside Gaza, the group's access to those funds has been sharply curtailed.

The consequences are already taking shape. As the IDF presses deeper into Gaza and anti-Hamas demonstrations surface in some areas, intelligence officials say the financial strain is accelerating a slow disintegration of Hamas' internal command and control.

And that, my friends, is the PDB Afternoon Bulletin for Thursday, the 17th of April. Now, if you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me at pdbatthefirsttv.com. And as four out of five doctors will tell you to listen to the show ad-free, just become a premium member of the President's Daily Brief by visiting pdbpremium.com. I'm Mike Baker, and I'll be back tomorrow. Until then, well, stay informed, stay safe,

Stay cool. Want that neighbor envy green lawn you've always dreamed of? Call Virginia Green, your local lawn treatment experts for fertilization, weed control, and pest control. 100% satisfaction guaranteed. Got five minutes? Get started at virginiagreen.com.