January 26th, 2026: Iran Chemical Weapons Claims & Minneapolis Shooting Fallout
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
It's Monday, the 26th of January. Welcome to the President's Daily Brief. I'm Mike Baker, your eyes and ears on the world stage. And yes, if you said to yourself, looks like Mike's back on the road, you'd be right. Coming to you this morning from some nondescript airport somewhere. All right, let's get briefed.
What are the latest reports about chemical weapons used in Iran?
First up, new reports out of Iran suggest that the regime may have deployed chemical agents against protesters, raising serious questions about how far Tehran is willing to go to crush dissent. I'll have the details. Later in the show, we'll break down the latest developments from Minneapolis, where a Border Patrol agent shot and killed a man during the immigration crackdown, leading to more calls for the federal law enforcement to leave the state. Plus, the trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine and the U.S. have wrapped up with leaders projecting optimism, but little tangible progress. Well, of course, hope is the thing with feathers. And in today's back of the brief, President Trump claims a secret weapon, apparently not really secret anymore, which he called the, quote, discombobulator.
I'm not making that up. And he claims it was decisive in the raid that captured Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro. Now, if I'm not mistaken, I believe the original discombobulator, it first appeared in one of the Austin Power movies. I may be wrong on that. But first, today's PDB Spotlight. We're tracking new reports out of Iran that suggest the regime may have outdone itself in its brutal crackdown on protesters. According to multiple accounts and officials in the United Kingdom, Tehran's security forces may have used lethal chemical agents against demonstrators. It's an allegation that, if confirmed, would mark a major escalation in the regime's use of force against its own people. Witnesses and medical sources describe symptoms that go far beyond what you'd expect from standard riot control agents like tear gas.
Protesters reportedly experienced severe respiratory distress, sudden collapse, and prolonged breathing complications, effects that raised immediate alarms among outside observers. In some cases, victims required urgent medical care, while others described lingering symptoms hours after exposure. Sources even alleged delayed health reactions that led to deaths of those exposed days later. Footage captured during one protest appeared to show security personnel wearing full hazmat suits and protective masks. positioned atop military vehicles moving through city streets. And that's an image that has only added to concerns about what may have been deployed by the regime. Now, it's important to be clear here.
These are reports from the ground, but access inside Iran remains tightly restricted. Independent verification is difficult, and the regime has offered no transparency. I know, I too am shocked that the mullahs and the Revolutionary Guard Corps have not been transparent about their brutal efforts to remain in power. But multiple outlets and analysts say the accounts are consistent enough and serious enough that they warrant close international scrutiny. If Tehran did, in fact, deploy chemical agents against civilians, that would represent not just another brutal episode in its long history of oppression, but a step into territory that carries enormous legal and moral and strategic consequences, none of which would likely bother the Iranian regime.
Chemical weapons are banned under international law, and their use, especially against a civilian population, would further isolate an already isolated regime. If the reports are determined to be accurate, we can count on the United Nations and the international community to issue a very terse memo. Of course, this new reporting comes against the backdrop of growing internal pressure. Iran's leadership continues to face unrest, economic strain, and deep public resentment. The use of extreme measures would suggest a regime increasingly willing to accept international condemnation in exchange for short-term control at home.
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Chapters
7 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:12–0:31
2
What are the latest reports about chemical weapons used in Iran?
0:31–4:58
3
What happened during the fatal shooting incident in Minneapolis?
4:58–8:01
4
How are federal law enforcement actions impacting Minneapolis protests?
8:01–14:35
5
What progress was made in the trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the U.S.?
14:35–18:12
6
What challenges are faced in reaching a peace agreement in Ukraine?
18:12–22:55
7
What secret weapon did Trump claim was used against Maduro?
22:55–24:13
Speakers
2 identifiedMore from The President's Daily Brief
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