Welcome back to Impact Theory with Tom Bilyeu. In this thought-provoking episode, Tom sits down with Mike Baker—former CIA officer, security expert, and host of the President’s Daily Brief podcast—to dissect some of the most pressing issues facing America and the world today. Together, they dive deep into the real threats posed by China, from cyber warfare and TikTok’s influence, to intellectual property theft and military ambitions in the South China Sea. Mike shares his insider perspective on just how vulnerable the U.S. population is to manipulation and misinformation, and why America’s short-term focus could leave us blindsided by powers playing the long game. The conversation doesn’t stop there. Tom and Mike tackle America’s mounting debt crisis—why it could be our biggest existential danger—and break down the hard realities of realpolitik, from uneasy alliances to the sometimes ugly calculations behind foreign policy. They take an unflinching look at the Russia-Ukraine war, Israel and Gaza, and the cultural and geopolitical tensions threatening to reshape the global order.

SHOWNOTES 00:00 China's Influence and Manipulation 19:27 Counterintelligence: Targeting and Loyalty Challenges 24:05 China's View on Ukraine & Taiwan 39:15 Flexible Pandemic Response Debate 45:27 Debt: The Biggest U.S. Threat 01:01:32 Career Politicians and Wealth Accumulation 01:05:43 Putin Stalling Amid Peace Talks 01:15:55 Economy Concerns Over Foreign Issues 01:24:56 Iranian Regime: Root of Conflict 01:39:28 Phosphate Mining Debate in Florida 01:43:51 University Activism: Passion or Organization? 02:02:37 Border Security and Deportation Debate 02:05:27 "Fast-Moving Organization's Risky Strategy" 02:17:20 "Life Decisions: Do Your Best"

FOLLOW MIKE BAKER:
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/mbcompanyman
President’s Daily Brief: https://www.youtube.com/@PresidentsDailyBrief
Portman Square Group: https://www.portmansquaregroup.com/

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