It's Monday, the 19th of October. Welcome to the PDB afternoon bulletin. I'm Mike Baker, your eyes and ears on the world stage. Alright, let's get briefed. First up, in news that should surprise absolutely no one, new reporting reveals that Iran's revolutionary guard corps the IRGC is helping the Houthis coordinate deadly attacks against Saudi Arabia. Later in the show, Romanian F-16s bring down two suspected Russian drones inside NATO airspace and officials believe they're among Moscow's newer faster drone models. The mounting incursions coupled with attacks on shipping are pushing the alliance to bolster its Black Sea defenses. But as the White House says, at least Vladimir Putin is easier to deal with than Ukraine's president Zelensky. So there's that. First up, today's afternoon spotlight. We've been tracking the Iran-backed Houthi offensive in Yemen and the increasingly destructive attacks against Saudi Arabia. Now, new reporting confirms what we've been reporting here on the PDB for some time. Iran's role goes well beyond supplying weapons training and money. According to new reporting from the Wall Street Journal, officers from Iran's revolutionary guard corps the IRGC are operating inside Yemen, helping Houthi forces select targets, planned military operations, and direct drone and missile strikes against Saudi Arabia and its allies. The findings come from people briefed on Saudi and Houthi intelligence. And one of the more interesting reports involves two flights from Iran to Yemen back in July of this year. Officially, the Mahan Air aircraft were transporting Yemeni pilgrims and Houthi officials, traveling to and from Tehran for funeral events, honoring Iran's former Supreme Leader Ali Hamani. But according to the journal sources, the flights were also carrying IRGC officers drone components, missile guidance systems, and detonators. I wonder if that all fits in the compartment above your seat or if you have to put it underneath the seat in front of you. Do you mean to tell me that there's gambling going on at Rick's Cafe? Shocked. Mahan Air has long been under American sanctions for transporting weapons in personnel and money for the IRGC. Saudi Allied forces reportedly discovered the cargo and bombed the runway at Sana'a airport to prevent the second flight from landing. That confrontation helped ignite the current round of fighting, ending a four-year truce. The Houthis dispute the account. Well, if they say so or if the IRGC tells them to say so, then I'm sure there's nothing to it. A senior Houthi official who says he was aboard the second flight accuses Saudi Arabia of exaggerating the Iranian connection to justify the attack. But the allegations don't end with those flights. The journal reports that IRGC officers subsequently helped the Houthis establish positions along Yemen's Red Sea coastline, assisting with radar systems, missile deployments, and battlefield planning. When the Houthi offensive began in September, under the guidance and death of the behest of Iran, Saudi-backed forces were caught off guard. The militants pushed down the coast, seized the port city of Mokha, and advanced towards strategic territories surrounding the Babelman-Debs strait. Their attacks combined infantry assaults with coordinated missile and drone strikes. They also used first-person-view drones guided by fiber optic cables, which of course makes it more difficult to disrupt, using conventional electronic jamming. Sources familiar with the fighting attribute some of that improved coordination to Iranian training, resources, and on-the-ground intelligence support. One government official says revolutionary guard personnel were operating near the front lines, directly assisting with drone and missile attacks. Of course, the actions of the Iranian regime and their proxy group extend well beyond the borders of Yemen. The Houthis obstructs Saudi oil infrastructure, commercial shipping, and airports. Last weekend, an attack at Riyadh's International Airport killed at least 13 people. Iran denies directing the group, oh well, if they say so, and Houthi officials reject claims that Iranian assistance explains their recent successes. But the intelligence described by the journal points to a close operational relationship. For the Iranian regime, having the Houthis engage in this conflict with the Saudis offers strategic advantage. We've spent considerable time here on the PDB discussing Iran's efforts to use the Strait of Hormuz as leverage against Washington and its Gulf allies. Houthis now, of course, threaten another vital passage that would be the Babelman-Debs Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Pressure at both choke points raises risks for commercial shipping, energy exports, and international trade. And all of this serves the agenda of Tehran, exerting additional pressure on the US, the region, and global energy markets. As we've discussed previously here on the PDB, you cannot separate the Iran conflict from what their proxy group is doing in Yemen. And the regional response is growing. This morning, we did mention that Egypt is considering military assistance to Saudi Arabia. Separately, the Guardian reports that the United Arab Emirates, the UAE, has agreed to resume funding to allied Yemeni forces. Egypt, for their part, says any involvement would be defensive, but the prospect of additional Arab military support shows just how widely the conflict's consequences are being felt. For Yemen's civilians, renewed fighting means still more displacement and pressure on already strained humanitarian services. And for Washington, the dilemma is becoming increasingly complicated. The Trump administration wants to bring the war with Iran to an end in order to stabilize energy markets. But even though the White House seems to want to treat Yemen and Iran as two separate issues, Tehran is helping the Saudis intensify attacks, the threat in Saudi Arabia, the region, a critical shipping route, and global energy markets. All right. Coming up next, another incursion into NATO airspace ends with Romanian F-16s shooting down two suspected Russian drones. Now, allies are heading into talks on how to confront the growing threat in and around the Black Sea. I'll be right back. Hey, Mike Baker here. Now, here's a statement of the obvious. Getting older hits hard, I know, and we're all getting older, sorry to tell you the truth. And as we age, stiff joints and slow recovery, well, that becomes a new normal. Part of the problem is that college in production starts dropping in our mid-20s, meaning as you age, you start losing the glue that supports of skin and muscles. Well, that's why I use Bubs' Natural College in peptides as Bubs, B-U-B-S, just like it sounds. It restores youthful college and levels so you can perform your best. I put a scoop into my morning coffee, it's tasteless, and I started noticing the difference in short order. Bubs is the gold standard, NSF certified sugar-free, and sustainably sourced. The name is a tribute to Navy SEAL Glen Bub Dirty, and they donate 10% of profits to charity. Bubs also offers premium creatin, MCT oil, and electrolytes. Live better and longer, that sounds good, doesn't it? For a limited time only, our listeners at the PDB are getting 20% off at Bubs' Natural by using Code PDB at checkout. Just head on over to BubsNaturals.com and use Code PDB and you're all set. Yeah, if you purchase, well, there'll ask how you heard about them. If you don't mind, do me a favor, tell them the PDB said you. Let me take just a moment to talk about good health and taking care of yourself. Look, when it comes to taking care of your health, the liver and cholesterol levels are key concerns, but many people hesitate when they're told they may need to take traditional therapies long-term. If you're like me, you want to feel like you still have some say in how you manage your health. Well, that's why people are turning to simple alternatives with ingredients that they recognize, like CoQ10, Ginger, Pomegranate, and Amla. One great option that I want to tell you about is DOS for cholesterol. That's DOS DOS SC. DOS for cholesterol is a clinically backed cholesterol support supplement designed to support triglycerides, HDL, and total cholesterol levels. What I like about DOS is that me and people on my team have been using DOS and have been encouraged by what we've seen in our blood work. And by the way, I only talk about products on this show that I and people around me genuinely use. That's very important. DOS is also incredibly easy to work into your routine. It's a daily two ounce liquid shot that tastes delicious. Basically, it's got a mango citrusy taste. There's no capsules, no powders. It gets delivered right to your door, also, making it super simple. New customers can save 35% of the first month of subscription by going to DOSDaily.co/PDB or entering PDB at checkout. Once again, that's DOSDaily.co/PDB for 35% off your first month subscription. Welcome back to the PDB afternoon bulletin. A NATO country once again had to scramble its fighter jets to confront suspected Russian drones inside its own airspace. Romanian F-16s shot down two drones over the Black Sea Saturday, adding to a growing list of incursions that continued to test the alliances, defenses, and patience. Both drones had entered the airspace of a Romania's territorial waters, according to the country's defense ministry. Romania's defense minister said Sunday quote, "The ones from last night were flying at approximately 280 miles per hour, which leads us to think they were Russian-made Goron 4 drones with TurboProp engines. Now, this is the first time, he said, we've shot down drones like these," end quote. While a TurboProp engine is not
Not the same as a jet engine that is similar, as it does use a gas turbine core. That identification is still preliminary, but if Romanian officials are correct, their pilots encounter a faster Russian attack drone, leaving air defenses less time to identify the threat and shoot it down. Now, we've been following Russia's efforts to expand its use of these weapons. And that includes a massive new drone launch facility in the Rostov region that's near Ukraine, where a satellite imagery analyzed by Reuters showed a base taking shape in just six weeks, apparently, to launch the newer Goron models. And as Russia expands its drone capabilities, Romania is reporting a sharp increase in incursions. Romania's Defense Ministry says the country has recorded 35 unauthorized drone incursions so far in 2026, that's compared with nine throughout the entire 2025. Bucharest has responded with force. Romanian troops began shooting down drones entering their airspace earlier this year and have destroyed six so far this year, compared with none in 2025. Romania shares a roughly 380-mile border with Ukraine, much of it along the Danube River. Russia has repeatedly attacked Ukrainian ports and other infrastructure along that waterway, bringing its weapons dangerously close to Romanian territory. Each geography helps explain the danger now facing commercial ships along the coast. Just days before Saturday's interceptions, drones struck two chemical tankers anchored near the Sulina Canal. That canal connects the Danube to the Black Sea, giving Ukraine an important route to move exports down the river and out into international waters. A NATO military source told Reuters that Russian drones hit both tankers. Canadian authorities are still searching for seven missing crew members. At least five other cargo ships have been struck near the coast of Romania and neighbouring Bulgaria over the past two weeks. As I previously discussed on the podcast, across those additional incidents 23 sailors have been reported dead or missing. Notably, most of those attacks occurred outside NATO territorial waters. But both the airspace violations and the attacks on shipping will come before the North Atlantic Council tomorrow at NATO headquarters in Brussels. Romania's foreign minister said discussions would focus on Black Sea defense and deterrence, including how NATO can expand its military presence in the region and strengthen its surveillance capabilities. A NATO official told Reuters, quote, "NATO is ready and able to react to any potential threat, 24/7, to safeguard our territory and protect our people." Now, no word yet, from the White House as to whether they blame Zelensky for these Russian drone incursions into NATO territory. Alright, fine, that makes me sound churlish. And that, my friends, is the PDB afternoon bulletin for Monday, the 19th of October. If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me at
[email protected]. And to listen to the show Add Free, you can do that, it's very simple. 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, stay informed, stay safe, stay cool. Mike Baker here, with a pro tip for feeling your best. Let me ask you a question. Have you ever finished breakfast or launched your dinner, but then find yourself reaching for a snack an hour later? Yeah, right. You know what I'm talking about? Cravings can take over, even when you're trying to eat healthy. And that's exactly why Pendulum Metabolic Daily was designed. Now, you've probably seen all the news about GLP1s, right? Here's the thing. Pendulum Metabolic Daily is a science-backed probiotic designed to support your body's natural GLP1 response. Help you feel fuller longer, experience fewer cravings, and makes it easier to stay on track with your health goals. The secret is Akamansia, it's a unique gut bacterium that helps signal the body to produce natural GLP1. Just one capsule a day with food, it's that simple, some customers report noticing fewer cravings and more energy in as little as a week, though individual results, of course, can vary. Right now, podcasts listeners of the pdb can save up to 48 percent, get a load of that 48 percent off their first order at pendulumlife.com/pdb, that's pendulumlife.com/pdb to save up to 48 percent off your first order. Again, pendulumlife.com/pdb and get almost half off today.
PodcastTranscript AI