Trump daily intel brief role almost handed over to ‘extremely dangerous’ anti-Israel scholar

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1. SS: In March 2025, DNI Tulsi Gabbard tried to appoint an anti-Israel scholar, Daniel Davis, to be in charge of Trump’s daily intelligence briefing. Beyond his anti-Israel commentary, Davis was also noted for his strong opposition to American strikes in Iran.

   This article is related to the following short investigative piece about Iranian American investor Omeed Malik and his relationship with Tucker Carlson and Tulsi Gabbard.

   [Omeed Malik](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omeed_Malik), born in 1979/1980 to an Iranian mother and a Pakistani father, is a Republican-affiliated former Democrat political donor and a leading co-founder of the venture capital firm 1789 Capital, whose mission is to develop a “parallel economy” of right-wing ventures.

   1789 Capital was the[ lead investor](https://www.axios.com/2023/10/17/tucker-carlson-new-media-company-15-million) in the initial $15 million seed funding round for Carlson’s new media company. Beyond this direct investment, a clear pattern of financial ties exists. In February 2023, before his departure from Fox, Carlson interviewed Malik, promoting Malik’s SPAC, Colombier Acquisition Corp. That SPAC later merged with Public Square, an online marketplace for conservative-leaning businesses. That same year, after Carlson was fired from Fox News, his new media company’s first ad deal was a seven-figure partnership with Public Square, the very company he had promoted. This financial maneuver suggests Malik was not only financially invested in Carlson’s venture but also provided a major advertising revenue stream through a company with which he was deeply involved.

   In 2020, while still a Democrat, Malik[ became a minority owner](https://thehill.com/homenews/media/512421-ny-democrat-omeed-malik-joins-daily-caller-as-minority-investor-contributing/) in The Daily Caller, a conservative media website founded by Carlson, shortly after Carlson[ sold his own stake](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/10/business/media/daily-caller-tucker-carlson.html) in the company. This longstanding relationship between the two highlights a consistent pattern of support from Malik to Carlson’s media properties.

   Recently, Tucker Carlson aired an episode featuring Shahed Ghoreishi, a communications staffer who was fired from the State Department for promoting anti-Israel talking points. Ghoreishi[ interned](https://niacouncil.org/niac-statement-in-response-to-laura-loomers-racist-smears-to-silence-anti-war-voices/) at the pro-Iranian lobbying group National Iranian American Council (NIAC) and his old[ Just Security profile](https://www.justsecurity.org/author/ghoreishishahed/) describes him as an advocate for “progressive foreign policy.” This unusual programming choice for a conservative outlet was likely influenced by Malik.

   Malik was also the most prominent financial backer of Tulsi Gabbard during her run in the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries, before the two made a coordinated shift to the Republican party. He hosted at least two fundraisers for her in[ NYC](https://youtu.be/ttQlm0O5ql0?si=WzerB5O6CBvAjPnb&t=1) and[ Las Vegas](https://youtu.be/RB5ULQUQNVA?si=_iKIJTVdrhmQ6QT2&t=4), guiding her pitch to the audience. Tucker, who shares Malik as a sponsor with Gabbard, promoted her nomination very enthusiastically. For example, in February 2025, he released a[ video](https://youtube.com/shorts/dGSRLDKr3L4?si=pT7XWW3FmLVMHhpq) arguing that “Tulsi Gabbard as DNI will change everything”. Carlson also declared in a speech that every GOP senator must confirm Gabbard or be [considered an “enemy”](https://www.mediaite.com/politics/tucker-carlson-says-every-gop-senator-must-support-tulsi-gabbard-or-they-are-an-enemy-of-the-united-states/).

   On June 10, three days before the Israeli surprise attack on Iran, Tulsi Gabbard released an unauthorized cryptic video on X, warning that “elite warmongers” are bringing the world closer to “nuclear annihilation.” Trump was[ reportedly](https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/17/gabbard-trump-00411685) “incensed” upon watching that video, as he interpreted it as publicly pressuring him against involvement in the war against Iran. Tucker Carlson, who also opposed U.S. involvement in Iran, publicly lashed out at Trump. Trump, in response, mocked him as “kooky Tucker Carlson” in a Truth Social post.

   While Malik has never publicly outlined his views specifically on the US-Iran conflict and Israel, it appears his involvement in media and politics is designed to take the teeth out of American policy toward Iran. Both Carlson and Gabbard, both deeply involved with Malik, went to great lengths to prevent an American attack on Iran, in a way that caused a fracture in their relationship with Trump.

   A look at the foreign policy spaces Malik was active in as a Democrat might offer us insight into his approach to Iran. Before his switch to the Republican party, Malik held leadership positions in Network 20/20, a non-profit focused on citizen (non-governmental) diplomacy. On their website they state their mission is to promote “the open exchange of ideas on foreign affairs and essential people-to-people connections across international borders.” and “idea of global citizenship”. As the mission statement above suggests, Network 20/20 has a broad global focus and has been involved with many countries, including Vietnam, Tunisia, China, Pakistan, Poland, Serbia – and Iran, among others.

   The organization’s[ 2012 annual report](https://network2020.org/annual-reports/), which lists Malik as co-chairman of its membership committee, also states the organization’s mission vis-à-vis Iran:

   >During the past year, Network 20/20’s Entrepreneurial Diplomacy Program maintained a high level of interest in Iran by working with Network 20/20 members from Tehran who are studying and working in the U.S., those who have dual passports, and Iranian visitors to the U.S. Relying primarily on these sources, Network 20/20 is actively pioneering ways to build bridges with Iranian counterparts at the grassroots level and to reframe perceptions of Iran here at home.

   Despite the mention of Network 20/20 members with connections to Iran being part of the effort to improve Iran’s image, no public information beyond that on their website ties Malik, whose mother is Iranian, to that project. 

   In addition to that, in 2014, when Malik served on the organization’s board of[ trustees](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/341983612), Network 20/20 sent a delegation to Iran, “at the invitation of the Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS), a think tank associated with Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” according to their 2014 annual report.

   About the clips:

   First clip – Clip from the interview in which Tucker Carlson promoted Malik’s SPAC, Colombier Acquisition Corp., that eventually merged with Public Square.

   Second clip – from a fundraiser Omeed Malik hosted for Tulsi Gabbard in 2019.  

   Third clip – from Tucker Carlson’s video about Gabbard as DNI from February.  

   Fourth clip – covering Gabbard’s clash with Trump over Iran.

2. Tulsi was once given an award at a gala hosted by Dr. Miriam Adelson and Rabbi Shmuley Boteach for her record of supporting Israel. Evidently Qatar or whoever are cutting the big checks these days.

3. > Gabbard has made few recent public statements about the Gaza conflict. However, many of Davis’ other positions – including skepticism toward American support for Ukraine and concerns about Syrian government collapse – align with her views. Davis’ social media has consistently supported Gabbard’s foreign policy positions.

   Seems like another pro Putin guy like Gabbard herself. Supports Assad’s Syria, anti-Israel, anti Ukraine? She would want to hire a bunch of these guys who don’t praise Putin too openly, but pretty much have an anti-American standpoint in this conflict. This group would go extreme war hawk if USA is in conflict with a nation Russia wants it to attack.

4. It’s funny

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