March 18th, 2026: Who’s Actually In Charge Of Iran Right Now? & Trump Delays China Trip

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: New reports suggest backchannel communication between the U.S. and Iran—but with key leadership figures gone, a bigger question emerges: is there anyone left in Tehran with the authority to actually make a deal? President Trump delays a high-stakes trip to China by several weeks as the White House shifts its focus to the war with Iran. A deadly Pakistani airstrike in Kabul kills dozens, marking a sharp escalation in tensions with Afghanistan. And in today’s Back of the Brief — an update on President Trump’s push to build a multinational “Hormuz coalition” as several Western nations decline to participate. 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 Ava: See how millions are boosting their credit with Ava—download the Ava app and use code BAKER for 20% off your first year. Mars Men: For a limited time, our listeners get 50% off FOR LIFE, Free Shipping, AND 3 Free Gifts at Mars Men at https://Mengotomars.com Acre Gold: Start building physical gold with simple monthly payments and enter to win two Ancient Collection gold bars at https://GetAcreGold.com/PDB