PDB Situation Report | January 31st, 2026: American Firepower Gathers at Iran’s Doorstep & The Cost of Putin’s War

In this episode of The PDB Situation Report: American military power is gathering at Iran’s doorstep, as U.S. warships and air assets move into position across the Middle East. Mike is joined by Richard Goldberg of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies to break down what Washington may be preparing for—and what signals this deployment is sending to Tehran. Later, we examine a sobering new study detailing the human cost of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Seth Jones, one of the study’s authors, joins us with insights on battlefield losses and what they mean going forward. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President’s Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Cardiff: Get fast business funding without bank delays—apply in minutes with Cardiff and access up to $500,000 in same‑day funding at https://Cardiff.co/PDB Nobl Travel: Protect your gear and travel smarter—NOBL’s zipper-free carry-on is up to 58% off at https://NOBLTravel.com Joi + Blokes: Go to http://joiandblokes.com/PDB and use code PDB for 50% off your labs and 20% off all supplements