Donald Trump’s administration remains under fire over the alarming security breach that saw Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, added by mistake to a Signal group chat in which the president’s most senior security officials discussed upcoming military action, with the magazine publishing their text exchange in full on Wednesday after the administration denied classified information was compromised.
Trump had said his National Security Adviser Mike Waltz has nothing to apologize for and, in an interview with Newsmax last night, attempted to shift the blame towards an unnamed “lower level” White House employee instead, despite Waltz himself saying he takes “full responsibility” for the disaster.
The administration has been heavily criticized since it emerged on Monday that officials including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Vice President JD Vance discussed a highly-sensitive operation targeting Houthi positions in Yemen on the commercial messaging app with Goldberg able to read every word.
Hegseth – like Waltz, facing calls for his resignation from Democrats – called the editor a “deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist”.
Two members of the chat, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, appeared before the Senate Intelligence Committee yesterday and were extensively grilled on the breach.
Key Points
- The Atlantic publishes Trump administration’s Houthi attack plans in full
- Trump shifts blame for Signalgate texts onto mystery ‘lower level’ White House employee
- Mike Waltz says he takes ‘full responsibility’ for leaked chat
- Trump claims ‘billionaires on the left’ partly to blame for violence against Tesla
- President signs executive order calling for proof of American citizenship to vote
‘This is what Pete Hegseth says isn’t a war plan?’
13:20 , Joe SommerladWhile the administration might quibble over the difference between “war plans” and “attack plans”, there now seems little doubt that the information shared in the Signal chat was highly sensitive and went into detail on exactly what was planned for the Houthis on the Red Sea, calling into serious question the denials we’ve heard so far that classified material was shared.
This is what Pete Hegseth says isn't a "war plan" pic.twitter.com/gzvVRXZ7MF
— Aaron Blake (@AaronBlake) March 26, 2025
Listen everyone. I’ve see classified stuff before. This is the kind of stuff that gets the highest classification.
— Adam Kinzinger (Slava Ukraini) 🇺🇸🇺🇦🇮🇱 (@AdamKinzinger) March 26, 2025
I had to have TS clearance to hear the names of the people we targeted in Iraq when i was with TF16 and 17. And still some names were withheld until op was… https://t.co/3OuSo6Coom
If this isn't classified information, honestly, I don't know what is. pic.twitter.com/ECfyupA1sg
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) March 26, 2025
‘All of these people should be fired:’ Stephen Colbert rips into Trump officials
13:10 , Joe SommerladColbert became the latest late-night host to skewer the Trump officials caught up in the Signal text leak, calling for them to be fired before going further and arguing that some should be jailed.
“What else are these ‘merit-based hires’ posting on?” the comedian asked.
“What are they doing? Where else? For all we know, for just $4.99 a month, you might see the launch codes on OnlyFans.”
James Liddell was watching.
‘These people should be fired:’ Stephen Colbert shreds Trump officials in Signal chat
Why the Signal chat leak might have exposed a big legal problem for Trump administration
12:50 , Joe SommerladThe stunning revelation that The Atlantic’s Editor-in-Chief was inadvertently added to a group chat detailing recent airstrikes in Yemen has called into question the U.S. government’s ability to safeguard sensitive information and has exposed a potentially big legal problem.
The behaviour of Trump’s top security personnel “blatantly violated security regulations designed to prevent exactly this kind of leak, which would trigger administrative punishments,” attorney Mitch Jackson wrote on his Substack, citing the Espionage Act, the Federal Records and Presidential Records Acts, among others.
Here’s Rhian Lubin with what else the experts have had to say about the administration’s eyebrow-raising blunder.
Why Signal chat leak might have exposed a big legal problem for Trump administration
Breaking: Atlantic publishes Trump administration’s Houthi attack plans in full
12:35 , Joe SommerladJeffrey Goldberg and colleague Shane Harris have just published the full text thread exchange from the Signal group chat in which the likes of Hegseth, Waltz and Vance discuss their plans for targeting the Houthis in Yemen, which makes for some pretty interesting reading.
BREAKING: “People should see the texts in order to reach their own conclusions.” @JeffreyGoldberg and @shaneharris share the group chat in which officials planned strikes on Yemen. https://t.co/oOwwHA1SQh
— The Atlantic (@TheAtlantic) March 26, 2025
This is how White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded:
The Atlantic has conceded: these were NOT “war plans.”
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) March 26, 2025
This entire story was another hoax written by a Trump-hater who is well-known for his sensationalist spin. pic.twitter.com/atGrDd2ymr
Here’s more from Rhian Lubin.
Jasmine Crockett under fire for mocking Texas governor’s wheelchair: ‘Governor Hot Wheels down there’
12:30 , Joe SommerladThe Texas Democrat is facing sharp criticism from Republicans after she mocked Governor Greg Abbott over his wheelchair use.
Crockett has often been praised in recent weeks by progressives for her confrontational stance against conservatives and the Trump administration, particularly when her party elders like Chuck Schumer have been found wanting.
But speaking at the Human Rights Campaign 2025 dinner in Los Angeles this past weekend, the representative said: “We in these hot a** Texas streets, honey.
“Y’all know we got Governor Hot Wheels down there. Come on now! And the only thing hot about him is that he is a hot a** mess, honey!”
Abbott was paralyzed below the waist at the age of 26 when an oak tree fell on him during a jog in 1984.
Gustaf Kilander and Graig Graziosi have more.
Jasmine Crockett under fire for mocking Texas governor’s wheelchair
Lauren Boebert hints Trump administration is working to rename D.C. the ‘District of America’
12:10 , Joe Sommerlad“I would caution my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to refrain from making fun of the ‘Gulf of America’ because next up, you know it may end up being the ‘District of America’ that we’re working on,” the MAGA representative told lawmakers during a Water, Fisheries and Wildlife Subcommittee hearing Tuesday in response to jibes from opposition members about the renaming.
“So just, you know, keep the jokes at bay, and maybe we'll just stick with the Gulf of America for now.”
Madeline Sherratt reports.
Rep. Lauren Boebert wants to rename DC the ‘District of America’
Trump promises to ‘look into’ Ashli Babbitt’s shooting death on January 6
11:50 , Joe SommerladDuring his Newsmax interview last night, the president pledged to take a “look into” whether the U.S. government should reach a settlement with the family of Ashli Babbit and also into the continued employment of the U.S. Capitol Police officer who shot her dead on January 6 2021.
Trump has repeatedly praised his supporters who attempted to overturn his 2020 election loss, including Babbitt.
The 35-year-old U.S. Air Force veteran, who sported a Trump flag as a cape, was fatally shot while climbing through a broken door barricaded by officers as they attempted to evacuate dozens of members of Congress.
Last January, Babbitt’s family filed a $30 million wrongful death suit against the government.
James Liddell has more.
Trump promises to ‘look into’ Ashli Babbitt’s shooting death on January 6
Why Hegseth could end up being Trump’s scapegoat
11:30 , Joe SommerladVery hard to degree with Democrat Eric Swalwell’s observation here on the Defense Secretary’s reassurances yesterday:
No one who says “I know exactly what I’m doing” knows exactly what they’re doing. https://t.co/KshjeJFFQW
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) March 26, 2025
Here’s John Bowden’s analysis on what could happen next if this one refuses to blow over.
Top Democrat calls for Hegseth and Waltz to resign
11:10 , Joe SommerladMark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, demanded the resignations of senior Trump administration officials yesterday during an extremely timely and heated gathering of the panel.
Vice Chair Warner grilled Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard on Tuesday and slammed National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after they failed to conduct “security hygiene 101” in their Signal chat, failing to notice that The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg had been included in the text chain.
“Putting aside for a moment that classified information should never be discussed over an unclassified system, it’s also just mind boggling to me that all these senior folks were on this line and nobody bothered to even check,” Warner said.
“Security hygiene 101 – who are all the names? Who are they?”
During the hearing, Warner posted on X that “incompetence is not an option” and said that both Hegseth and Waltz should step down.
When the stakes are this high, incompetence is not an option.
— Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) March 25, 2025
Pete Hegseth should resign.
Mike Waltz should resign.
Alex Woodward reports.
Top Democrat calls for Hegseth and Waltz to resign over Signal leak
White House digs in amid fallout from Signal chat scandal
10:50 , Joe SommerladThe administration’s response to this week’s security scandal has so far been to dig in and hope it can convince Americans to dismiss the unprecedented lapse as media-driven partisan squabbling, even as Democrats are calling for resignations.
Andrew Feinberg and Eric Garcia have this on the mood in Washington right now.
Signal chat group members ‘partied at $1 million-a-plate Mar-a-Lago dinner’ after Yemen bombings
10:30 , Joe SommerladMembers of the leaky Signal group reportedly partied with the president at a $1-million-a-seat “candlelight fundraising dinner” at Mar-a-Lago hours after the successful bombing raid on the Houthis took place on March 15.
Some 53 people, including children, were killed in the attacks on Yemen.
According to Wired, the dinner included guests who had been on the chat earlier before the bombings, including National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Others apparently in attendance were Trump’s Middle East and Ukraine negotiator Steve Witkoff, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Elon Musk and his four-year-old son.
Mike Bedigan has more.
Chat group leakers partied after Yemen bombing at $1 million-a-seat Mar-a-Lago dinner
JD Vance to lead controversial visit by U.S. delegation to Greenland
10:10 , Joe SommerladThe vice president has said he will join his wife Usha on her trip to Greenland this week, suggesting in an online video that global security is at stake.
Vance will join the delegation in visiting the U.S. Space Base at Pituffik in the north of the Arctic territory, as Trump continues to put pressure on Denmark about acquiring it for the United States..
“We’re going to check out how things are going there,” Vance said in a video posted to social media.
“A lot of other countries have threatened Greenland, have threatened to use its territories and its waterways to threaten the United States, to threaten Canada, and of course, to threaten the people of Greenland. So we are going to check out how things are going there.
“Unfortunately, leaders in both America and in Denmark, I think, ignored Greenland for far too long.”
JD Vance: “There was so much excitement around Usha's visit to Greenland this Friday, that I decided that I didn't want her to have all that fun by herself, so I'm gonna join her."
— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) March 25, 2025
(The Prime Minister of Greenland strongly opposes this visit and called it ‘highly aggressive.’) pic.twitter.com/Ukc33pxt8c
Here’s more.
JD Vance to lead controversial visit by US delegation to Greenland
Trump signs executive order calling for proof of American citizenship to vote
09:50 , Joe SommerladThe president signed yet another order on Tuesday, this one requiring the public to prove they are U.S. citizens before they are allowed to vote and attempting to prevent states from counting mail-in ballots received after Election Day.
The sweeping order also seeks to take federal funding away from states that do not comply.
Trump has long questioned the U.S. electoral system and continues to falsely claim that his 2020 loss to Democratic President Joe Biden was the result of widespread fraud.
The president and his Republican allies also have made baseless claims about widespread voting by non-citizens, which is illegal and, in fact, rarely occurs.
Last year, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives approved a bill that would ban non-citizens from registering to vote in federal elections, a practice that is already illegal. It did not pass the Senate, which was then controlled by Democrats.
The White House's order seeks to achieve similar goals. Voting rights groups argued that it, like the aforementioned Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act that did not become law, would disenfranchise voters, particularly people of color, who do not have access to passports or other required identification.
“We’ve got to straighten out our elections,” Trump said as he signed the order at the White House.
“This country is so sick because of the elections, the fake elections and the bad elections, we’re going to straighten that out one way or the other.”
The order, like so many of his others, is likely to draw legal challenges.
Trump has signed an executive order overhauling elections. Here’s what it means
Mike Waltz says he takes ‘full responsibility’ for leaked Trump administration Signal chat about Yemen strike
09:30 , Joe SommerladIn an interview of his own with Laura Ingraham on Fox News, the under-fire Waltz said he was solely to blame for the Signalgate debacle, struggling to explain how Jeffrey Goldberg was added to the top secret chat if, as the security official claimed, he had never spoken to him and did not have his number.
Ingraham: How did the number end up—
— Acyn (@Acyn) March 25, 2025
Waltz: Have you ever had somebody's contact that shows their name and then you have somebody else's number. Of course I didn’t see this loser. Whether he did it deliberately… pic.twitter.com/ranmAPPNkT
Ingraham: But you’ve never talked to him so how is his number on your phone? pic.twitter.com/uVlf5d3rJ8
— Acyn (@Acyn) March 25, 2025
Even the ever-obliging Ingraham appeared to be having trouble making sense of Waltz’s excuses.
Here’s more from Josh Marcus.
Mike Waltz takes ‘full responsibility’ for leaked Signal chat about Yemen strike
Trump claims ‘billionaires on the left’ partly to blame for violence against Tesla
09:10 , Joe SommerladAlso in last night’s interview with Greg Kelly on the conservative cable news channel, the president agreed that George Soros and his ilk were “probably involved” in the spate of arson attacks on Elon Musk’s Tesla dealerships in recent weeks, without offering any evidence for the claim whatsoever.
Question: The Tesla violence. Have you heard anything about billionaires on the left, whether it's Soros or somebody else? Have you heard anything about planning, coordination, funding for these attacks?
— Acyn (@Acyn) March 26, 2025
Trump: I believe that that is part of it. Yeah, there are some of them that… pic.twitter.com/jCsu6GpyPz
Mike Bedigan has more on this one too.
Trump claims ‘billionaires on the left’ partly to blame for violence against Tesla
Top story: Trump shifts blame for Signalgate texts onto ‘lower level’ mystery employee
08:50 , Joe SommerladGood morning!
Donald Trump has shifted the blame for a major security blunder in which details of U.S. military operations in Yemen were leaked to a journalist on a secret group chat to an unidentified “lower level” White House employee that worked for his National Security Adviser Michael Waltz.
Trump offered the new theory in an interview on Newsmax Tuesday evening on how Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, ended up on the Signal group chat in which the top-secret plans were discussed.
“What it was, we believe, is somebody that was on the line with permission, somebody that was with Mike Waltz, worked for Mike Waltz at a lower level, had, I guess, Goldberg's number or called through the app, and somehow this guy ended up on the call,” the president said.
Trump: "What it was, we believe, is somebody that was on the line with permission, somebody that worked with Mike Waltz at a lower level, had Goldberg's number or call through the app, and somehow this guy ended up on the call." pic.twitter.com/O3ZHc6hHiY
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 26, 2025
Uh huh.
Here’s more from Mike Bedigan.
Trump shifts blame for Signalgate texts onto ‘lower level’ mystery employee
The Signal chat blunder has shaken Washington. Except in the White House where it’s brushed off
08:30 , Oliver O'ConnellOne day after the revelation of a shocking security breach from top Trump administration officials, the White House is digging in and hoping it can convince Americans to dismiss the unprecedented lapse as media-driven partisan squabbling even as Democrats are calling for resignations.
Eric Garcia, on Capitol Hill, and Andrew Feinberg, at the White House, filed this report.
Can Jeffrey Goldberg legally release the Signal messages he received?
08:00 , Oliver O'ConnellEditor-in-chief of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, released excerpts of the conversation among national security officials on the messaging app Signal after he was accidentally added to the group chat — exercising a right to publish that has sparked controversy among Trump administration officials.
Ariana Baio takes a look at the legal questions that have arisen.
Is Jeffrey Goldberg legally allowed to release the Signal messages he received?
FBI launches task force to investigate threats on Musk’s Tesla company
07:30 , Oliver O'ConnellFBI Director Kash Patel confirmed reports that a task force dedicated to investigating the spate of attacks against Elon Musk’s electric vehicle company, Tesla, has been established with the former prosecutor promising to root out “domestic terrorism.”
According to NBC News, at least 80 attacks have been reported against Tesla vehicles since Musk began gutting the federal government through his Department of Government Efficiency in January.
James Liddell reports.
FBI launches task force to investigate threats on Musk’s Tesla company
Is Signal secure? Worries raised after airstrikes group chat debacle
06:30 , Oliver O'ConnellSignal is viewed as one of the most secure messaging apps available to the public, but both experts and lawmakers are sharing their concerns about its use by top Trump administration officials.
Gustaf Kilander reports.
Is Signal that secure? What the experts think about Trump admin’s war plans leak
Top Democrat calls for Hegseth and Waltz to resign and shreds Gabbard over Signal war talk leak
05:30 , Oliver O'ConnellThe top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee demanded the resignations of senior Trump administration officials who used a Signal thread to discuss a bombing campaign in Yemen and included a journalist in the chat.
During a hearing Tuesday, committee vice chair Mark Warner grilled intelligence director Tulsi Gabbard and slammed national security adviser Mike Waltz and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after they failed to conduct “security hygiene 101” without realizing The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg was included in the text chain.
Alex Woodward watched the hearing.
Top Democrat calls for Hegseth and Waltz to resign over Signal leak
X loses Community Notes correcting the Pentagon’s claims about the Yemen text leaks
04:30 , Oliver O'ConnellCommunity Notes on Elon Musk’s app X correcting the Pentagon’s claims about a “deceitful” journalist involved in the Yemen message leak have disappeared from an official Department of Defense post.
Rhian Lubin investigates.
Community Notes correcting Pentagon claims about Yemen leaks disappears from Musk’s X
Citing ‘state secrets’, Trump admin refuses to answer judge’s questions over deportation flights
03:30 , Oliver O'ConnellDonald Trump’s administration is refusing to answer any questions from a federal judge about deportation flights to El Salvador’s notorious prison under the president’s use of the Alien Enemies Act.
Judge James Boasberg had ordered government attorneys to answer a series of questions — including when those planes left the United States and entered El Salvador — to determine whether administration officials intentionally defied his court orders, which were delivered in court and in filings hours before the planes landed March 15.
For more than a week, the judge has pushed the administration for answers and extended deadlines for a response.
But in a late-night filing Monday, Trump administration officials and government lawyers said “no further information will be provided”.
Alex Woodward explains what is happening.
Trump refuses to answer questions about deportation flights, citing ‘state secrets’
ICYMI: CNN airs brutal montage of Trump officials from Signal chat condemning Hillary Clinton
02:45 , Oliver O'ConnellCNN aired a montage of Trump administration officials embroiled in the Signal chat saga repeatedly condemning former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton over her use of a private email server while in office.
James Liddell has the story.
CNN montage shows Trump officials in Signal chat condemning Hillary Clinton
Federal workers describe dire conditions as they return to office
02:30 , Oliver O'ConnellFederal workers who have been summoned back into their offices five days per week are being met with less-than-desirable conditions, from cramped workspaces to dirty bathrooms, as the Trump administration seeks to cut costs by reducing space and staff, according to reports.
Following orders from President Donald Trump, government employees are returning to their offices full-time – all while the administration seeks to axe some of its real estate portfolio to reduce government spending.
Ariana Baio reports.
Federal workers describe dire conditions returning to office such as BYO toilet paper
Watch: Trump shifts blame for Signalgate texts onto mystery 'lower level' employee
02:10 , Mike BediganFull story: Trump shifts blame for Signalgate texts onto mystery ‘lower level’ employee
01:55 , Mike BediganDonald Trump has shifted the blame for a blunder in which details of U.S. military operations in Yemen were leaked to a journalist on a secret group chat to a “lower level” White House employee that worked for his national security advisor Michael Waltz.
In an interview with Newsmax, which aired on Tuesday evening, Trump offered a theory on how Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, had ended up on a Signal group chat in which the top-secret plans were discussed.
Read the full story here:
Trump shifts blame for Signalgate texts onto mystery ‘lower level’ employee
Trump says 'billionaires on the left' partly to blame for violence against Tesla
01:18 , Mike BediganSpeaking to Newsmax, Donald Trump said that it was possible that part of the responsibility for destruction and vandalizing of Tesla vehicles lay with “billionaires on the left.”
“The Tesla violence. Have you heard anything about billionaires on the left, whether it's Soros or somebody else. Have you heard anything about planning, coordination, funding for these attacks?” asked Newsmax host Greg Kelly.
Trump replied: “I believe that that is part of it, yeah. There are some of them that were involved with my trials that were, I think, probably involved with that also.”
Trump offers theory on how The Atlantic ended up on Signal group chat
01:11 , Mike BediganIn an interview with Newsmax, which aired on Tuesday, Donald Trump offered a theory on how journalist Jeffrey Goldberg, had ended up on a Signal group chat in which U.S. military plans were discussed.
The president called Goldberg “a loser” and said the his publication, The Atlantic, was “failing.”
“It's a terrible magazine. They made up all sorts of stories about me with with standing over the grave of soldiers,” he said, referring to a prior piece published by the outlet.
“But Goldberg's a loser. His magazine's a big loser. And what it was, we believe, is somebody that was on the line with permission, somebody that was with Mike Waltz, worked for Mike waltz at a lower level, had, I guess, Goldberg's number or called through the app, and somehow this guy ended up on the call.”
Democrats and Republicans calling for action in the wake of Signal text leak
01:00 , Oliver O'ConnellBoth Democrats and Republicans are calling for action after The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief was inadvertently added to a Signal group chat as Trump administration officials hashed out secret war plans for an impending U.S. strike in Yemen.
James Liddell reports.
Democrats call for ‘heads to roll’ in the wake of Signal leak
Is Jeffrey Goldberg legally allowed to release the Signal messages he received?
00:30 , Oliver O'ConnellEditor-in-chief of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, released excerpts of the conversation among national security officials on the messaging app Signal after he was accidentally added to the group chat — exercising a right to publish that has sparked controversy among Trump administration officials.
Where does the law stand on this?
Ariana Baio explains.
Is Jeffrey Goldberg legally allowed to release the Signal messages he received?
Jimmy Kimmel shreds Trump admin's ‘bunch of doofs’ over Signal leak
00:15 , Oliver O'ConnellJimmy Kimmel shredded Trump administration officials involved in the Signal leak after inadvertently giving a journalist a front-row seat as they hashed out secret war plans for an impending U.S. strike in Yemen.
James Liddell reports.
Jimmy Kimmel shreds ‘bunch of doofs’ in Trump administration over Signal leak
Trump to sit down for Newsmax interview
00:01 , Mike BediganDonald Trump’s interview with Greg Kelly from Newsmax is scheduled to air at 9 p.m. eastern.
It comes after the president said Mike Waltz, his national security adviser, has no need to apologize for the alarming security breach in which he inadvertently added Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor of The Atlantic, to a Signal group chat about upcoming military action.
Waltz takes 'full responsibility' for Yemen plan leak
Tuesday 25 March 2025 23:55 , Mike BediganMichael Waltz has said he takes “full responsibility” for the leaking of the Yemen military plan with a journalist from The Atlantic and and says the White House is moving forward.
Ingraham: But you’ve never talked to him so how is his number on your phone? pic.twitter.com/uVlf5d3rJ8
— Acyn (@Acyn) March 25, 2025
Jasmine Crockett under fire for mocking Texas governor’s wheelchair
Tuesday 25 March 2025 23:40 , Oliver O'ConnellTexas Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett is facing sharp criticism from Republicans after she mocked Governor Greg Abbott over his wheelchair use.
Crockett has often been praised by progressives for her confrontational stance against conservatives and the Trump administration.
Gustaf Kilander and Graig Graziosi have the story.
Jasmine Crockett under fire for mocking Texas governor’s wheelchairr
Has the Signal chat leak exposed a big legal problem for Trump administration?
Tuesday 25 March 2025 23:20 , Oliver O'ConnellThe stunning revelation that The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief was inadvertently added to a group chat detailing recent airstrikes in Yemen has called into question the U.S. government’s ability to safeguard sensitive information and has exposed a potentially big legal problem.
Here’s Rhian Lubin to explain.
Why Signal chat leak might have exposed a big legal problem for Trump administration
EDITORIAL: We should not underestimate the historic threat Donald Trump represents – to his country, to the West and to a free press
Tuesday 25 March 2025 23:00 , Oliver O'ConnellThe United States is fortunate indeed that Jeffrey Goldberg, editor of The Atlantic magazine – and the surprise beneficiary of a leak of sensitive military plans – is a man of sound judgement. Had he not been, and had recklessly made public the top-secret details of US attacks on Houthi rebels, then the consequences would have been serious and possibly even fatal for US service personnel.
The irony is that the great care taken by Mr Goldberg when he inadvertently learnt the operational details stands in stark and shaming contrast to reckless blunders made by various senior members of the Trump administration.
Continue reading...
We should not underestimate the historic threat Donald Trump represents
Melania Trump’s wedding dress is ‘up for auction’
Tuesday 25 March 2025 22:40 , Oliver O'ConnellMelania Trump’s 2005 wedding dress is supposedly up for auction for less than half of what it originally cost her — and it looks completely different.
The gown — worn by the First Lady of the United States to marry Donald Trump in Palm Beach, Florida, 20 years ago — weighed exactly 60 pounds and cost $100,000, according to Page Six.
Kaleigh Werner has the story.
Melania Trump’s Christian Dior wedding dress is ‘up for auction’ 20 years later
Will Pete Hegseth be Trump's scapegoat as president looks to move on from debacle?
Tuesday 25 March 2025 22:20 , Oliver O'ConnellJohn Bowden writes:
Donald Trump’s irritation over the wall-to-wall coverage of a shocking breach of security at his administration’s highest levels was apparent on Tuesday, as was his desire to push past the narrative.
Congress, under unified Republican control, could do little to help him.
Continue reading...
FBI launches Tesla threats task force to target ‘domestic terrorism’
Tuesday 25 March 2025 22:00 , Oliver O'ConnellFBI Director Kash Patel confirmed reports that a task force dedicated to investigating the spate of attacks against Elon Musk’s electric vehicle company, Tesla, has been established with the former prosecutor promising to root out “domestic terrorism.”
According to NBC News, at least 80 attacks have been reported against Tesla vehicles since Musk began gutting the federal government through his Department of Government Efficiency in January.
James Liddell reports.
Tesla threats task force launched by FBI to target ‘domestic terrorism’
‘You’ve got to give me something’: Judge skeptical over Trump policy ending non-binary passports
Tuesday 25 March 2025 21:40 , Oliver O'ConnellA federal judge on Tuesday appeared skeptical that the Trump administration had solid evidence to support its decision to stop issuing passports with a non-binary ‘X’ sex marker.
“You’ve got to give me something, or else I’ll assume there’s nothing,” Massachusetts federal Judge Julia Kobick reportedly said in court in a hearing for a lawsuit challenging the policy, according to Bloomberg Law.
Josh Marcus reports.
Judge skeptical over Trump evidence for ending ‘X’ passports: ‘Give me something’
Jeffries writes to Trump calling for Hegseth to be fired
Tuesday 25 March 2025 21:29 , Oliver O'ConnellNew York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic Leader in the House of Representatives, has written to President Donald Trump calling for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to be “fired immediately” for his role in the Signalgate group chat debacle.
NEW: Jeffries, in a letter to Trump, calls for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to be "fired immediately" for the Atlantic Signal chat incident. pic.twitter.com/TEBqAIlC3h
— Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender) March 25, 2025
Florida wants to loosen child-labor laws to make up for loss of migrant workers
Tuesday 25 March 2025 21:25 , Oliver O'ConnellFlorida is looking at the possibility of loosening some child labor laws to replace undocumented workers.
The state has been penalizing employers hiring undocumented workers, leading to businesses struggling to fill jobs that are often paid poorly and viewed as undesirable.
Both Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the Republican-led legislature are now looking at children as a possible solution to the issue, according to CNN.
Gustaf Kilander reports.
Florida wants to loosen child-labor laws to make up for loss of migrant workers
The Signal chat blunder has shaken Washington. Except in the White House where it’s brushed off
Tuesday 25 March 2025 21:10 , Oliver O'ConnellOne day after the revelation of a shocking security breach from top Trump administration officials, the White House is digging in and hoping it can convince Americans to dismiss the unprecedented lapse as media-driven partisan squabbling even as Democrats are calling for resignations.
Eric Garcia, on Capitol Hill, and Andrew Feinberg, at the White House, report.
Russia and Ukraine agree to Black Sea ceasefire
Tuesday 25 March 2025 21:00 , Oliver O'ConnellRussia and Ukraine have agreed to a ceasefire in the Black Sea, the White House has said, following an intense round of negotiations in Saudi Arabia as Donald Trump pushes for a full peace deal to end Vladimir Putin’s three-year invasion.
A US delegation has engaged in separate talks with officials from Moscow and Kyiv since Sunday. Two meetings with the Ukrainians came either side of a marathon 12-hour discussion with Moscow on Monday, described as “challenging” but “useful” by a member of Russia’s delegation.
Kyiv and Moscow both agreed to “ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea”, the White House announced on Tuesday.
Alex Croft reports.
Russia and Ukraine agree to Black Sea ceasefire after days of intense talks, US says
What's on the Vances' schedule in Greenland?
Tuesday 25 March 2025 20:50 , Oliver O'ConnellWith both Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance visiting Greenland this week (much to the consternation of the local population), you might be wondering what they are going to do when they get there.
Well, it’s definitely a step up from when Donald Trump Jr visited the Danish territory and had lunch with people who were allegedly rounded up from the streets.
Per the White House:
On Friday, Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance will travel to the Pituffik Space Base in Greenland to receive a briefing on Arctic security issues and meet with U.S. servicemembers. Pituffik Space Base is the Department of Defense’s northernmost installation. The Base, which is operated by the United States Space Force’s 821st Space Base Group, supports missile warning, missile defense, and space surveillance missions.
The strategic partnership between the United States and Greenland has long played a vital role in our national and economic security. During World War Two, the United States established over a dozen military bases in Greenland to defend the North Atlantic from Nazi incursion. During the Cold War, the United States committed additional resources to Greenland to defend against Soviet missile attacks. In the decades since, neglect and inaction from Danish leaders and past U.S. administrations have presented our adversaries with the opportunity to advance their own priorities in Greenland and the Arctic. President Trump is rightly changing course.
The Vice President and Second Lady’s visit to Pituffik Space Base will take place in lieu of the Second Lady’s previously announced visit to the Avannaata Qimussersu dogsled race in Sisimiut.
Trump discusses Gaza ceasefire efforts with UAE president
Tuesday 25 March 2025 20:45 , ReutersUnited Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and President Donald Trump discussed efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza in a phone call, Emirati state news agency WAM reported on Tuesday, as Israel resumed its military offensive in the enclave last week.
Profile: Mike Waltz — Trump's under fire national security adviser
Tuesday 25 March 2025 20:40 , Katie HawkinsonPresident Donald Trump’s National Security Adviser Mike Waltz has found himself in the middle of a political firestorm after mistakenly adding The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief to a group chat about U.S. plans to strike Yemen on the encrypted messaging app Signal.
Now, Trump and certain media outlets are defending Waltz, while Defense Secretary Pete Hesgeth denied the legitimacy of the leaks, despite the administration confirming their validity.
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are calling for Waltz to step down, while several top Trump administration officials were blasted over the leak during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Tuesday morning.
Here’s what you need to know about Waltz:
University professor lawsuit claims Trump administration deporting pro-Palestine activists creates ‘climate of repression and fear’
Tuesday 25 March 2025 20:20 , Oliver O'ConnellUniversity professors sued a host of federal officials on Tuesday, alleging that the Trump administration is violating the First Amendment and creating a “climate of fear and repression” on campus by seeking to deport pro-Palestinian activists.
“The Trump administration is going after international scholars and students who speak their minds about Palestine, but make no mistake: they won't stop there,” reads a statement from Todd Wolfson, president of the American Association of University Professors, one of the groups that brought the suit.
Josh Marcus reports from San Francisco.
Professor lawsuit claims Trump deporting activists creates ‘climate of repression’
Trump adviser Mike Waltz says he 'never communicated' with Atlantic editor
Tuesday 25 March 2025 20:12 , Oliver O'Connell...which doesn’t exactly match with what Jeffrey Goldberg wrote about being invited into the group chat by him.
National Security Advisor Mike Waltz says he “never communicated” with The Atlantic‘s Jeffery Goldberg.
— The Recount (@therecount) March 25, 2025
According to Goldberg, a user identified as Waltz invited him to the Signal chat in which Waltz and other Trump officials discussed impending strikes on Yemen. pic.twitter.com/tVfz7ByxUw
Watch: Trump dodges question on classified information
Tuesday 25 March 2025 20:05 , Oliver O'ConnellCNN’s Kaitlan Collins asked President Donald Trump who told him there was no classified information in the Signal group chat amongst senior officials in his administration after he said there was not without explaining how he knew that.
He did not answer and asked for another question.
President Trump declines to answer when I asked who told him there was no classified information in the group chat about strike plans on Yemen. “Another question, please.” pic.twitter.com/mGEZIT3cDv
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) March 25, 2025
Trump hotel in Las Vegas faces lawsuit after death of woman allegedly thrown from revolving door
Tuesday 25 March 2025 20:00 , Oliver O'ConnellTrump International Hotels is being sued in a wrongful death lawsuit after a woman was ejected from a revolving door at the Las Vegas location and later died from her injuries.
According to the lawsuit, which was filed in the Clark County District Courts, Diana Truschke, 78, was injured on March 21, 2023, while visiting the Trump property in Nevada.
Graig Graziosi reports.
Trump tower in Las Vegas faces lawsuit after woman died in revolving door
Vance to accompany second lady on controversial Greenland trip
Tuesday 25 March 2025 19:47 , Oliver O'ConnellLooking forward to visiting Greenland on Friday!🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/p3HslD3hhP
— JD Vance (@JDVance) March 25, 2025
Vice President JD Vance will now accompany Second Lady Usha Vance on her trip to Greenland later this week.
The planned visit by a senior delegation from the Trump administration, which also includes national security adviser, Mike Waltz, has sparked anger in the Danish territory given President Donald Trump’s wish to take it over.
Here’s Rhian Lubin with more on the reaction in Greenland:
Greenland slams ‘highly aggressive’ visits by Usha Vance and Trump nat sec advisor
