EXPLOSIVE DOLPHINS? Iran Weighs Unconventional Attacks in Hormuz

0:01 Well, just when you thought that the Iran

0:03 conflict couldn't get any more unpredictable,

0:06 Iran may now be considering using mine-carrying dolphins to target US warships.

0:11 I don't think the dolphins are fully on board with the idea,

0:14 but behind that headline is a fresh proposal from Tehran

0:17 for negotiations as the US blockade continues to squeeze Iran's economy.

0:22 Meanwhile, President Trump is weighing a range of next steps,

0:25 including renewed military action against the regime.

0:28 If you're confused over where this all stands, you're not alone.

0:32 I'll have the details.

0:40 We begin today with a closer look at the increasingly unpredictable and in some

0:44 cases unconventional ways that Iran may be preparing to escalate the conflict.

0:50 According to new reporting,

0:52 Iranian officials are now weighing a range of asymmetric options

0:55 to target US forces in and around the Strait of Hormuz,

0:58 including the potential use of dolphins equipped

1:01 with naval mines to attack American warships.

1:05 Now, the use of Flipper and her buddies is reportedly

1:08 just one of many tactics being floated by the Iranian regime.

1:12 As an aside, only folks of a certain age might recall

1:15 the amazing 1960s TV series called Flipper and starring a smiling,

1:20 incredibly well-trained bottlenose dolphin.

1:22 In reality, the role of Flipper was

1:24 played by several different trained female dolphins.

1:28 That's a bit of news that you might not find on other podcasts.

1:33 But I digress.

1:34 Aside from possibly blowing up dolphins,

1:36 which seems right in line with the Iranian regime's character,

1:39 officials say Tehran is also considering

1:41 deploying submarines into the strait and has

1:43 already threatened to cut key undersea

1:46 communications cables that run through the waterway,

1:49 which could significantly disrupt global internet traffic.

1:53 Taken together, the regime's strategy is, of course,

1:55 focused on targeting not just military assets,

1:58 but the infrastructure that underpins global commerce and communication.

2:02 Inside Iran, there's growing concern that the current US blockade aimed

2:06 at choking off Tehran's oil exports is not simply an alternative to war,

2:11 but a form of warfare itself.

2:14 As one analyst told The Wall Street Journal,

2:16 the blockade is now being viewed in Tehran,

2:18 {quote} not as a substitute for war, but as a different manifestation of it.

2:23 {end quote} Well, it didn't take them long to figure that one out.

2:27 And that perception is beginning to shape decision-making.

2:30 In fact, some Iranian officials are now warning that continued

2:33 economic pressure could make renewed military conflict the less costly option.

2:39 At the same time, Iranian leaders are continuing to issue direct threats.

2:43 In response to reports that the Trump

2:45 administration is considering additional strikes,

2:48 Iran's Aerospace Force Commander warned this week,

2:51 {quote} We've seen what happened to your regional bases.

2:54 We will see the same thing happen to your warships.

2:56 {end quote} It's a comment that no doubt has the dolphins concerned.

3:01 So, the message from Tehran is clear.

3:03 If pressure continues, escalation will follow.

3:06 Still, even as those threats are being made,

3:09 Iran is also signaling a potential willingness to re-engage diplomatically.

3:14 According to Reuters,

3:15 Tehran sent another proposal for negotiations to Pakistani mediators on Friday,

3:20 just days after President Trump rejected their previous offer.

3:24 Details of that proposal remain unclear,

3:26 and the White House has not yet directly commented.

3:29 But the timing is notable.

3:31 As we discussed earlier on the PDB,

3:33 it comes amid mounting economic pressure inside Iran,

3:36 where analysts say the US blockade has helped push the country's economy

3:40 into what some describe as a {quote} death spiral marked by soaring inflation,

3:45 a collapsing currency, and widespread shortages of basic goods.

3:49 While more muted, it's worth noting that this economic

3:53 strain is being felt globally as well.

3:55 The crisis in the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted a waterway

3:58 that carries roughly 20% of the world's oil and gas,

4:02 sending energy prices sharply higher and raising

4:04 fears of a broader economic downturn.

4:07 On Thursday, oil surged to a 4-year high before

4:11 pulling back slightly on news of Iran's latest proposal.

4:15 Meanwhile, on the military front,

4:16 preparations appear to be continuing on all sides.

4:19 Iranian officials say they've activated air defenses and are preparing for what

4:23 they believe could be a short but intense round of US strikes,

4:27 potentially followed by Israeli military action.

4:30 On the American side, President Trump is being briefed on a range of options,

4:34 including the possibility of extending the blockade

4:37 or even deploying ground forces to seize

4:39 control of parts of the Strait of Hormuz in order to reopen shipping lanes.

4:44 But the US is also quietly laying the groundwork for a post-conflict scenario,

4:49 circulating plans for a multinational maritime coalition designed

4:53 to ensure freedom of navigation through the strait.

4:56 So, on one hand, escalating threats,

4:59 including unconventional tactics and warnings of attacks on US warships.

5:04 On the other, a renewed, if tentative, push for negotiations.

5:09 And all of it unfolding under a legal gray area back in Washington.

5:13 Now, under the War Powers Resolution,

5:15 the administration faced a 60-day deadline to either

5:19 end hostilities or seek authorization from Congress.

5:22 But officials of the administration now

5:24 argue that the April ceasefire effectively, quote,

5:27 terminated hostilities for the purposes of that law,

5:31 allowing the administration to sidestep that requirement,

5:34 even as military pressure continues.

5:36 Coming up next, the longest partial government

5:39 shutdown in US history has finally ended.

5:42 Huzzah.

5:43 But key immigration agencies are still not funded,

5:46 setting up a new battle in Congress.

5:49 I'll be right back.

5:52 Hey, Mike Baker here with an important message for every taxpayer out there.

5:56 Now, you know, we just finished tax season, right?

5:58 But of course, well, there's always next year.

6:00 It never really ends, does it?

6:02 Now, we've all heard those radio ads about the IRS.

6:04 You know the ones I'm talking about.

6:06 Plenty of ads, plenty of companies out there telling you to be afraid,

6:10 and they try to frighten you into calling.

6:11 But I want to tell you about a company that's different.

6:14 It's called Tax Relief Advocates, TRA.

6:17 If you owe money to the IRS,

6:19 whether it's 5,000 or 50,000 or 500,000, I hope that's not the case.

6:23 TRA, Tax Relief Advocates, has a solution to your tax problem.

6:27 TRA could reduce or even eliminate what you owe to the IRS.

6:31 Their passion is taxes and helping

6:33 individuals and businesses fix their IRS problems.

6:36 They have over 1,000 five-star Google reviews

6:39 and an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

6:42 Here's the truth.

6:43 You do not need to be afraid of the IRS any longer.

6:46 Generous tax relief programs are now available that can

6:49 give you a fresh start, so don't wait.

6:51 Simply visit tra.com.

6:53 That's tra.com or call 800-583-6515.

6:58 Once again, that number is 800-583-6515.

7:03 Tax Relief Advocates, real solutions for real people.

7:07 Hey, Mike Baker here.

7:08 Let me take just a moment to talk about something very important

7:11 for anyone who's on Medicare or about to sign up for Medicare.

7:15 Look, here's the thing.

7:16 When folks get Medicare guidance, they rarely consider this fact.

7:20 Agents get paid by big insurance to sell specific plans.

7:24 It's just the way the business works.

7:26 So, that advice that you may be getting,

7:28 it's not necessarily in your best interests.

7:31 It means you're often shown what they're paid to show you,

7:34 not every option that's out there.

7:35 The result?

7:36 Well, your doctor might not be covered

7:38 or your prescriptions could cost way more than they should.

7:41 And this problem is more common than you think.

7:44 And those unnecessary costs, well, they can add up quickly.

7:47 Here's what I think.

7:48 You need someone with no skin in the game,

7:50 and that is why I've partnered with Chapter.

7:53 They're the only national advisor comparing every plan available.

7:57 Their advisors are salaried,

7:58 so they have zero incentive to steer you in a particular direction.

8:02 And get this, it's a free 20-minute call.

8:05 If you're turning 65 or you're already on Medicare,

8:09 call Chapter at 915-671-5252.

8:13 Again, that number 915-671-5252.

8:20 Welcome back to the PDB Afternoon Bulletin.

8:23 We turn now to Washington, D.C.

8:25 where after a nearly 11-week fight over

8:27 funding for the Department of Homeland Security,

8:30 the longest partial government shutdown in U.S.

8:32 history has finally come to an end.

8:34 On Thursday, President Trump signed into law

8:36 a bipartisan funding bill that reopens most DHS operations,

8:41 including agencies like the Secret Service, TSA, FEMA, and the Coast Guard.

8:47 The legislation passed unanimously

8:48 in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives after

8:51 being unanimously approved by the Senate on the 2nd of April,

8:55 breaking the weeks-long stalemate, of course,

8:57 that had left key parts of the department operating under emergency funding.

9:02 Officials had recently warned that money was about to run out,

9:05 raising concerns about disruptions at airports

9:07 and broader national security risks.

9:10 And calls to break the deadlock only intensified after the attempted

9:14 assassination of President Trump at last

9:16 Saturday's White House Correspondents Association Dinner.

9:19 But while the shutdown is over,

9:21 the core issue that caused it has not been resolved.

9:25 As we've been reporting, the standoff was never about the entire department.

9:29 It centered specifically on immigration enforcement,

9:31 particularly ICE and the Border Patrol.

9:34 Democrats continue to push for new oversight measures on ICE and Border Patrol,

9:38 including stricter rules on how agents operate in the field,

9:42 while Republicans argue those changes would undermine enforcement efforts

9:46 at a time of heightened concern over border security.

9:50 And those agencies are still not funded under this new bill.

9:53 Instead, Republican leaders are now moving

9:55 forward with a separate plan to provide roughly $70 billion in funding

10:00 for those operations through the budget reconciliation process,

10:03 allowing them to bypass Democrat opposition and pass

10:07 the measure with a simple majority in the Senate.

10:10 That step appears to have been the breakthrough that unlocked the deal.

10:13 After weeks of resistance,

10:15 House conservatives agreed to move forward with the broader DHS funding bill

10:19 now that the separate funding track for immigration enforcement is in place.

10:23 In effect, lawmakers ended the shutdown by splitting the issue in two,

10:27 funding the rest of DHS immediately while postponing

10:30 the fight over immigration enforcement for another vote.

10:34 So, you ask after all that confusion, where do things stand?

10:38 Well, on Wednesday House Republicans managed to pass the Senate's

10:42 $70 billion budget blueprint for ICE and Border Patrol,

10:46 which will allow congressional committees

10:48 to begin writing separate funding legislation.

10:51 Republicans are aiming to pass that separate funding bill as soon

10:55 as May using reconciliation to move

10:57 it through Congress without Democrat support.

11:00 But, as you might imagine, the path forward remains uncertain.

11:04 So, while the immediate crisis has been averted

11:07 with DHS now largely back up and running,

11:10 the broader political and policy battle that triggered

11:13 this shutdown is still very much alive.

11:17 And that, my friends, is the PDB Afternoon Bulletin for Friday, the 1st of May.

11:21 Now, if you have any questions or comments,

11:23 please reach out to me at pdb@thefirsttv.com.

11:27 And to listen to the show ad-free, you can do that.

11:29 It is very, very simple.

11:31 Just become a premium member

11:32 of the President's Daily Brief by visiting pdbpremium.com.

11:36 And of course, it's Friday, the end of another week.

11:40 And as a well-deserved reward,

11:42 we have a brand new episode of our extended weekend show, the Situation Report.

11:47 It's filmed, edited, and in the can,

11:49 ready to spool onto the film projector and beam

11:52 out over the wonders of television and the internet.

11:55 You can catch the latest episode tonight at 10:00 p.m.

11:57 on The First TV.

11:58 And of course, as always, on our YouTube channel @President's

12:02 Daily Brief and podcast platforms everywhere.

12:05 We've got Heritage Foundation's Steve Yates,

12:08 who was in attendance at the White House Correspondents Dinner the other night.

12:11 He'll be giving us a first-hand account from inside the ballroom,

12:15 along with defense reporter extraordinaire Reuben Johnson.

12:18 Reuben has excellent insight into the current state of Russia,

12:21 including growing anger and dissent

12:23 regarding Putin's four-year-long invasion of Ukraine.

12:27 I'm Mike Baker, and I'll be back over the weekend with the PDB Situation Report.

12:31 Until then, stay informed.

12:34 Stay safe.

12:35 Stay cool.

12:38 Hey, Mike Baker here.

12:39 Now, many of you know me as the host of the President's Daily Brief.

12:42 At least I hope that you know me as the host of the PDB.

12:45 But, I am also a business owner, have been for years.

12:48 So, I want to take just a moment

12:49 to talk with all of you business owners out there.

12:52 You probably already know this, but small businesses

12:55 face an uphill battle with big banks, right?

12:57 Where getting a loan means endless paperwork and delays.

13:00 But, I want to tell you about a business

13:02 out there working to make life easier for small businesses.

13:05 I'm talking about Cardiff.

13:08 For bank rates without the wait,

13:09 go to cardiff.co/pdb for up to $500,000 in funding.

13:14 Their application takes less than 5 minutes, has no impact on personal credit,

13:19 and approvals can happen in minutes with same-day funding.

13:22 It's the fastest way to get the capital

13:24 that you need to keep your business moving forward.

13:27 Look, banks try to lock out small businesses, but Cardiff has the key.

13:31 Big banks may not want to approve your business loans, but Cardiff does.

13:35 If you've been in business for at least a year,

13:37 and you're pulling in 20,000 a month in revenue,

13:39 apply now for up to $500,000 in same-day business funding at cardiff.co/pdb.

13:47 Again, that's cardiff.co/pdb.

13:50 Real growth, fast funding.

13:52 That's Cardiff.

13:55 Hey, thanks for tuning in.

13:56 If you enjoyed this video,

13:57 don't forget to hit that like button and leave a comment,

14:00 a really positive, nice, and kind comment.

14:03 That would be appreciated.

14:04 And if you're not already subscribed to our channel,

14:06 make sure to subscribe and turn on notifications

14:09 so you don't miss any of our daily updates.