During a House Intelligence Committee hearing, Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.) questioned CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s potential alcohol consumption prior to a security breach. Hegseth accidentally included a journalist in a Signal group chat containing classified war plans. Ratcliffe vehemently objected to the line of questioning, leading to a shouting match with Gomez. The exchange highlighted concerns about Hegseth’s alleged drinking and the severity of the security breach.
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Former CIA Director John Ratcliffe defended his use of the Signal messaging app for discussing an impending Yemen military strike, blaming the Biden administration for permitting its prior use, a claim the White House denied. Ratcliffe testified he was unaware of classified details being shared in the group chat, which included several top Trump administration officials and, inadvertently, a journalist. The chat, concerning a military operation, violated intelligence community advisories against using Signal due to security vulnerabilities. Several officials refused to clarify whether they used personal or government phones for the communication.
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In stark contrast to the intense scrutiny of Hillary Clinton’s email practices, a Signal group chat among top Trump administration officials, including Pete Hegseth, discussing a potential US bombing campaign against the Houthis in Yemen, has garnered significantly less attention. This chat, which accidentally included Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg, revealed plans for an imminent attack. The hypocrisy and potential risk to US military personnel inherent in this discrepancy are notable. Clinton herself has commented on the staggering hypocrisy and dangerous incompetence displayed.
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Chief Judge James Boasberg, recently criticized by President Trump for blocking the deportation of alleged gang members, will preside over a new lawsuit. This case challenges the administration’s use of a private messaging app, Signal, to discuss sensitive military operations, a practice deemed unusual by intelligence experts. The lawsuit, filed by American Oversight, alleges violations of federal record-keeping laws. The defendants include several high-ranking national security officials. This latest assignment further highlights Boasberg’s prominent role in high-profile cases involving the Trump administration.
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Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard faced intense scrutiny after conflicting testimonies regarding a private Signal group chat containing sensitive war plans. Gabbard initially denied knowledge of classified information shared within the chat, but later attributed this to faulty memory. Her explanation was met with sharp criticism from both lawmakers and the public, who highlighted inconsistencies between her Senate and House testimony. The released texts, which detailed specific attack plans, revealed the presence of top-secret information, including target locations, aircraft types, and weaponry. Gabbard acknowledged the chat’s sensitive nature and that a reporter was inadvertently added.
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A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, alleging that a malfunctioning revolving door caused the death of 78-year-old Diana Truschke. The lawsuit claims the hotel negligently maintained the door, violating safety regulations, and that Truschke suffered fatal injuries after being ejected from the malfunctioning door. The plaintiff, Truschke’s son, seeks unspecified damages exceeding $15,000, citing negligence, and the Trump Organization has yet to respond to the suit. This incident adds to a history of alleged legal violations involving Trump-owned hotels.
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Yale professor Jason Stanley, author of *How Fascism Works*, is leaving the US for the University of Toronto due to concerns about the current political climate and its potential for authoritarianism. His decision was partly influenced by Columbia University’s capitulation to federal demands, which he views as a dangerous precedent for academic freedom. Stanley believes the current environment poses an unacceptable risk to higher education and the future of democracy, prompting his move to Canada. He sees this not as fleeing, but as joining the international fight against rising authoritarianism.
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A publicly accessible Venmo account belonging to National Security Advisor Michael Waltz revealed hundreds of his personal and professional contacts, including journalists, military officials, and lobbyists, posing a significant national security risk. This account, linked to other accounts of White House officials like Susie Wiles and Walker Barrett, exposed participants in a sensitive Signal group chat discussing a Yemen strike. Following WIRED’s inquiry, the accounts were made private. Experts cite this as part of a larger pattern of reckless behavior by senior administration officials regarding the handling of sensitive information.
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John Q. Hosedrinker