Mike Baker

That tension between the desire for decisive results and the realities of military power, well, is now at the center of the administration's debate.

President Trump has long argued that his success should be measured by, quote, the wars we never get into.

Yet he's also sent conflicting signals about Iran's leadership, at times expressing skepticism about regime alternatives,

and at other moments, calling openly for new leadership in Tehran.

Now, anyone familiar with the White House comments during the past year regarding Putin's war in Ukraine will recognize this pattern of conflicting statements.

Trump is consistent with his mixed messaging.

For now, no strike order has been given, but the buildup continues, the options are being refined, and the president is clearly keeping the door open.

If you're interested, by the way, in what a first strike against Iran might actually look like, may I suggest, here I'm suggesting, you dial up last week's PDB Situation Report, that's our extended weekend show, where I spoke with former Air Force fighter pilot Ryan Bodenheimer, and he's better known as Max Afterburner.

Now, we talked about how a U.S.

air campaign would unfold and the risks that come with it, of course.

You can find it and past episodes on our YouTube channel.

Just go to YouTube, of course, and search for At President's Daily Brief.

The episodes are also available on our podcast platforms everywhere.

All right, coming up next, U.S.

forces seize a seventh Venezuelan-linked oil tanker, signaling that Washington's pressure campaign at sea is far from over.

I'll be right back.

Hey, Mike Baker here.

Well, it is officially, of course, 2026.

You knew that.

But did you make any New Year's resolutions at the beginning of the month?