Mike Baker

Now, this story fits a broader pattern.

China continues to press for a larger physical and political footprint in Western capitals, while governments, especially in Europe, try to balance security concerns against economic realities.

London's decision suggests that, at least for now, diplomacy and trade are winning out over caution and security.

But this issue isn't totally settled.

Legal challenges, political backlash, and allied pressure could still complicate the project.

And if tensions with China worsen, as they have repeatedly over espionage, cyber activity, and coercive diplomacy, well, this embassy project could be stalled yet again.

And that, my friends, is the President's Daily Brief for Wednesday, the 21st of January.

Now, if you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me at pdbatthefirsttv.com.

And, of course, as you've probably read in the celebrity columns and magazines, our YouTube channel has become quite the thing.

You can find it on YouTube, of course.

Just search for at President's Daily Brief.

I'm Mike Baker, and I'll be back later today with the PDB Afternoon Bulletin.

Until then, stay informed, stay safe, stay cool.

It's Tuesday, the 20th 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, beyond Iran's carefully managed show of unity, reporting suggests growing unease inside the regime's leadership.

Really?

It's more like a moment of concern over self-preservation.