The Friday Brief by Girl Friday
The Friday Brief is a news podcast by Girl Friday, a boutique global affairs firm in Washington, D.C. We believe awareness impels action for a world of good.
The Friday Brief by Girl Friday
Call Him Daddy?
Did NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte call Donald Trump "daddy?" Well, it seems that recollections may vary. We're also reviewing the latest news from the NATO summit, including Trump's win on increased defense budgets. In this episode, we discuss the healthcare impacts of One Big Beautiful Bill, the back-and-forth between China and Taiwan, and the differences in opinion over the outcome of the operation in Iran.
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Welcome to The Friday Brief, a news podcast by Girl Friday. I’m Phoenix Ricks, the CEO of Girl Friday and your host. This is your brief for June 25, 2025.
All eyes are on the NATO summit in the Netherlands this week. Reuters reported that NATO leaders supported the significant increase in defence spending that Donald Trump demanded while reconfirming their commitment to defend each other from attacks. During the press avails, reporters asked Donald Trump about the U.S. attack on Iran and conflicting reports about the damage inflicted on Iran’s nuclear sites. The BBC reported that John Ratcliffe, the head of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, said the U.S. "severely damaged" Iran's nuclear facilities. However, U.S. leaks alleged the strikes were not as successful as the administration publicly claimed. Nevertheless, Ratcliffe maintains that important Iranian nuclear sites were destroyed. Trump went further in his assessment of the operation, saying that the strikes "obliterated" Iran's nuclear facilities. CBS says that Trump indicated he will meet with Iran next week. He added that a formal agreement between the U.S. and Iran may be possible. Still, he doesn’t believe it is necessary because, again, he maintains that Iran’s nuclear facilities were "blown up to kingdom come."
While Congress awaits intelligence to confirm that assertion, they are also focused on the potential impacts and fallout from the One Big Beautiful Bill. If Trump’s budget bill passes in its current iteration, many Americans are afraid they will lose critical health insurance and access to life-saving and life-changing medicine. NBC interviewed a woman named Cierra Matthews, who was shocked that the Republicans’ budget bill could affect her Medicaid benefits because of proposed changes. She said that members of Congress have health coverage and asked, “So how is that fair to just take it away from somebody that does have to worry about it because of finances or because of a job?”
As Americans think about the next elections, it is critical that everyone understands how healthcare coverage works in the United States. During the past election cycle, I saw too many stories on social media about people who did not realize that “Obamacare” is the Affordable Care Act. “Obamacare,” as a term, is sometimes used as a pejorative for alleged excessive government spending. People use it flippantly, completely unaware that the protections afforded under “Obamacare” are likely why they have health insurance and access to necessary medical care. It is so critical for Americans to divest from hyperpartisan politics and really understand the core policies that impact our daily lives. For instance, understanding the connections between foreign policies and energy policies.
On that note, in energy news, Reuters reported that global carbon dioxide emissions from the energy sector “hit a record high for the fourth year running last year as fossil fuel use kept rising even as renewable energy reached a record high.” That information was gathered from the Energy Institute's report, which noted how difficult it is for the energy sector to “wean the world economy off fossil fuels” amid uncertainty with Ukraine, Russia, and the Middle East.
Speaking of uncertainty and conflicts, Reuters also reported that China and Taiwan are in another verbal dispute, this time over their perceptions and interpretations of history and land ownership. China is holding firm, saying that it cannot “invade” Taiwan, because, to them, it is a land that is already its territory. The Independent reported that NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte commented on China’s “massive” military before this week’s NATO summit and questioned the possibility of a conflict over Taiwan. Rutte shared that Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand share NATO’s concerns. He said, “We have this close relationship ... exactly for the reason that these countries are very, very worried about the massive military buildup in China.”
While that is a key discussion point for NATO, Rutte is in the news today for other reasons. Did he actually call Trump, “daddy?” He has had to explain those remarks he made during a perhaps unusually jovial bilateral press conference with Donald Trump. The Hill newspaper reported that Rutte clarified, saying, “The daddy thing, I didn’t call him ‘daddy.’ What I said is that sometimes, in Europe, I hear sometimes countries saying, ‘Hey, Mark, will the U.S. stay with us?’ And I said that sounds a little bit like a small child asking his daddy, ‘Hey, are you still staying with the family?’ So in that sense, I used ‘daddy’ — not that I was calling President Trump daddy.” Now, just to be clear, here’s what he said during the press conference: “Sometimes daddy needs to use strong language.” He said that in reference to Trump’s alarming f-bomb quote about Israel and Iran’s ongoing battles.
So, did he or didn’t he? I only know one thing for sure. Here at The Friday Brief, there’s only one person we’re calling daddy: Alex Cooper.
Thank you for listening to The Friday Brief. We are now on daily, so make sure you and your friends don’t miss an episode! Check out thefridaybrief.com, and follow The Friday Brief on Instagram and TikTok. Until next time, I’m Phoenix Ricks signing off from Washington, DC. Let’s work together for a world of good.
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