PDB Afternoon Bulletin | October 9th, 2026: Trump Rules Out Iran Strikes Before Midterms & China's Maritime Militia Raises Blockade Fears

The President's Daily Brief · Oct 9, 2026 · 14m

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: First—President Trump says the U.S. won't launch new strikes against Iran before the November midterms, even as the Pentagon prepares for another major round of combat. But with Washington tightening its economic stranglehold and continued Iranian attacks on Gulf shipping, questions are mounting over just how long this uneasy standoff can last.Later in the show—China expands its maritime presence into sensitive waters off Taiwan's eastern coast. The latest discovery is raising fresh concerns that Beijing may be preparing for a future blockade of…