PDB Afternoon Bulletin | March 17th, 2026: Iran’s De-Facto Leader Killed & Ecuador Declares War on Cartels

The President's Daily Brief

The First TV

News, Politics

4.7 • 3.2K Ratings

🗓️ 17 March 2026

⏱️ 15 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: Reports say Israel has eliminated Ali Larijani, the regime’s de-facto leader and key wartime decision-maker. We break down who he was, how he rose to power, and what his death means for Iran’s leadership structure and the broader conflict. Ecuador launches a sweeping, U.S.-backed offensive against drug cartels, deploying tens of thousands of troops and imposing strict curfews in key coastal regions. We examine how this operation fits into Washington’s broader strategy—and whether it can break cartel control. 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 Pocket Hose-Ballistic: Text PDB to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply. American Financing: Call American Financing today to find out how customers are saving an avg of $800/mo. NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.196% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-885-1881 for details about credit costs and terms. Visit http://www.AmericanFinancing.net/PDB. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	It's Tuesday, welcome to ever click the end,
0:02.9	you're going to be on the world stage.
0:03.9	All right.
0:05.0	All right.
0:08.0	It's Tuesday, the 17th of March.
0:14.3	Welcome to the PDB afternoon bulletin.
0:16.9	I'm Mike Baker.
0:17.7	Your eyes and ears on the world stage.
0:20.3	All right.
0:23.0	Let's get briefed. First up,
0:28.6	there are preliminary reports that Israel has killed one of Iran's most senior leaders, Ali Laurentiani, in a major overnight strike. We'll break down who he was, why he mattered,
0:34.4	and what has reported death, if confirmed, means for the regime's grip on power.
0:39.8	Later in the show, Ecuador launches a massive U.S.-backed crackdown on drug cartels,
0:45.0	deploying tens of thousands of troops and locking down key coastal regions.
0:49.6	But first, today's afternoon spotlight.
0:52.3	We're getting new and still unconfirmed reports that one of the
0:55.8	most powerful men in Iran may have been killed in an Israeli strike. According to Israeli defense
1:01.3	minister Israel Cats, overnight air strikes killed Ali Laurentianni, the regime's top national
1:06.7	security figure, and effectively the man running the country since the death of Ayatollah Ali
1:11.9	Khamini at the outset of the war. Now, as of this hour, Iran has not confirmed Larajani's death
1:18.3	and complicating things further, a message attributed to him surfaced on social media Tuesday morning.
1:24.3	Of course, that doesn't mean he's alive, as he likely has a team running his
	...

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