Admin steps on its d*ck – bigly
Well, our war planners have figured out how to keep things secret in a new way. Pinky swearing.
OK, that was unfair…almost.What they did do, however, was about as infantile.
Signal, for those (like me) who don’t follow the latest apps, is a ‘secure’ commercial messaging app on a par with Meta’s WhatsApp. You send family pics in text messages, you schedule meetings (like the ones where the main item on the agenda is Charlie getting caught harassing a subordinate – confidential but not earth-shattering) in Signal, you use something really secure for things like, say, national security or items that can get people killed. There’s a hierarchy.
You don’t clog the important streams with whether you got lucky last night (although Tulsi is looking into a bunch of idiots at places like NSA who did just that) and you don’t do war planning on an unsecure PHONE APP. Well, unless you are a current appointee. Did I mention adding a freakin’ JOURNALIST to the list? Yeah, that too.
“The Atlantic” magazine editor Jeffrey Goldberg got an invitation on Signal to join a group from someone who seemed to be national security advisor Michael Waltz. Topic of the discussions? Bombing Houthis in Yemen. The list of people in the group is about what you would expect….top aides, department heads. The folks who keep their fingers on what’s happening. Think Titled Heads like Hegseth, Rubio, Vance, Gabbard. It appears Mike Waltz, National Security Advisor, originated the list, but the mere fact that they are discussing what should be highly classified info on a commercial app should have had every one of them going “Waitadamnminutehere… this ain’t the channel for this!”
Editor in chief Jeffrey Goldberg said he received a Signal connection request on March 11 from someone whom he believed to be national security adviser Michael Waltz. Two days later, he said he was added to a conversation called “Houthi PC small group” with what appeared to be 18 members of the administration, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Vice President JD Vance, where they talked about plans to bomb Yemen.
U.S. air and naval assets hit multiple Houthi targets in Yemen on March 15. The Houthi rebels are an Iran-backed terrorist organization based in Yemen that has said their attacks are intended to help end the war in Gaza, according to the Associated Press.
“I have never seen a breach quite like this. It is not uncommon for national-security officials to communicate on Signal,” Goldberg wrote. “But the app is used primarily for meeting planning and other logistical matters—not for detailed and highly confidential discussions of a pending military action. And, of course, I’ve never heard of an instance in which a journalist has been invited to such a discussion.”
President Trump told reporters on Monday that he “doesn’t know anything about it” when asked about the report in the Atlantic. White House National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes said in a statement that the message thread described in the article “appears to be authentic.” Yahoo News
I could believe the President wouldn’t know the details… but someone – hell, a BUNCH of someones who should know better – obviously slept through their security briefings. Adding a journalist to their little group chat? Even HE didn’t believe it – until details discussed on the messages came true in real life four days later. He got told we were bombing two hours before it happened. Jeez…why not just add Putin, Un, and Khamenei to the distribution?
If Waltz’ name rings a bell, you may recall this from 2023 when Biden was still in-house:
“Talk about a DOUBLE STANDARD: Biden’s sitting National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan sent top secret emails to Hillary Clinton’s private account and the DOJ didn’t do a DAMN THING about it,” Waltz wrote as a caption on the tweet. “No wonder Americans are losing faith in our justice system.” Mediaite
At least the results have been bipartisan…both Democrats and Republicans have gone on record saying heads should roll for this.
“This is an outrageous national security breach and heads should roll,” Pennsylvania Rep. Chris Deluzio, a member of the Armed Services Committee, told Axios. “We need a full investigation and hearing into this.”
“We can’t chalk this up to a simple mistake,” another Democrat, California Rep. Sara Jacobs, told the outlet. “People should be fired for this.”
Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said on X, “This administration is playing fast and loose with our nation’s most classified info, and it makes all Americans less safe.”
Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon, a Republican on the Armed Services Committee, told Axios that while he has “accidentally sent the wrong person a text,” the “unconscionable action was sending this info over non-secure networks.” Yahoo News
From another article:
Waltz, Vice President Vance, Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Department Secretary Scott Bessent, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe all appear to have been among the participants. So too, apparently, were key figures in Trump’s orbit including White House chief of staff Susie Wiles and key adviser Stephen Miller.
At least Goldberg kept his mouth shut instead of grabbing the reporters’ coup of the decade:
The Atlantic editor-in-chief wrote that, among other things, Hegseth’s message “contained operational details of forthcoming strikes on Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying, and attack sequencing.” The Hill
Waltz is a former Special Forces officer and former Congressman who should know better. Bluntly, he needs to go away. Think of it like this, Donnie me boy – you’re planning a hostile takeover of another company, you don’t put their CEO on the e-mail group list.
Category: "Teh Stoopid", "Your Tax Dollars At Work"
Hegseth addressed claims that leaders such as National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Vice President J.D. Vance were part of a supposed “Houthi PC small group” sharing sensitive details about military strikes against the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists in Yemen. Goldberg claims to have been “accidentally” added to this secure Signal group chat, igniting immediate backlash for his unfounded assertions.
When questioned about Goldberg’s allegations regarding Signal usage, Hegseth decisively responded, “I’ve heard that was characterized. Nobody was texting war plans, and that’s all I have to say about that.” Hegseth’s statement served as a final dismissal of Goldberg’s unfounded claims.
— https://pagetraveler.com/hegseth-destroys-fake-news-hack-over-trump-war-lies/
Upon landing at a military base in Pearl Harbor, Secretary Hegseth firmly condemned Goldberg’s narrative as mere fiction concocted by a “deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist.” Hegseth pointed out Goldberg’s history of perpetuating unfounded hoaxes, illustrating his lack of credibility. “This is the guy that peddles in garbage,” Hegseth remarked, underscoring the repetitive nature of Goldberg’s false narratives.
Funny…others higher up than him indicate the chat stream did occur. Use of Signal for government business of any kind is not lawful. Trump needs to open up with “Your Fired” on these folks. NSA provides secure systems for a reason. SCIF’s and STU’s exist. These clowns are going to get someone killed.
Attack the messenger is a classic ploy. Hegseth was always a poor choice and this seems to be evidence of that.
That certainly is the main concern. It is quite possible that no classified information was discussed, however the app is in violation of the government records act.
Aside from being illegal, also it was terrible idea. It was a carry over from the last administration and anything those guys were doing is pretty much sketch.
My understanding of Signal (as of this morning) is that is indeed lawful for certain kinds of unclassified government business because it meets the archival requirements, as opposed the Hillary’s bathroom server that served no other purpose than to circumvent those requirements. However…. and there’s always a however… that does not excuse discussing any kind of classified info via Signal.
It’s looking like Mr. Goldberg may have vastly exaggerated what was being discussed via Signal:
https://twitchy.com/samj/2025/03/25/scott-jennings-chat-breach-n2410423
https://twitchy.com/samj/2025/03/25/karoline-leavitt-texts-goldberg-n2410420
Don’t forget the classified emails and docs she had sent to her home email address on her home unsecure computer and had her illegal alien Honduran maid open and print out so she could read them when she got home in the evening. But hey, “at this point, what difference does it make.” It’s not like we can prove her lapses caused anyone to get killed, like those SEAL Team Six operators after Brandon outed them as the killers of Bin Laden.
(Note: I just heard someone leaked a photo of Delta Force operators to the public without their faces obscured. But of course, this Signal screw up is a bigger deal.)
The CIA Director testified, under oath, that yes, this text stream does in fact exist.
Watching the sh*t talking testifying to the Congress. I can’t recall is the statement of choice… I hate politicians. All flavors.
MI?
Bullshit.
If you were you would know using a commercially available app on personal cell phones is a violation of handling classified information.
You would also know missions details of targets, locations, times on targets, munitions, aircraft involved, and origins of the aircraft BEFORE the plane left the ground is CLASSIFIED.
If you were MI you were clearly incompetent.
And you are taking Hegseth at his word, without question, despite the evidence. Clown.
The so-called “journalist” is releasing portions of the chat he says is classified. They’re discussing things about the attack that have already happened. It’s no different than if an actual journalist was watching and reporting what is happening. Of course, your relationship with the truth is tenuous on a good day. You may go now.
For your further education. Find someone to read it to you.
https://pjmedia.com/matt-margolis/2025/03/26/jeffrey-goldberg-just-proved-his-signalgate-narrative-is-a-hoax-n4938288
Wasting your time. Communicating with him is like reasoning with your cat.
“Find someone to read it to you.”
Maybe he can get his CHICOM girlfriend to explain it to him.
As I understand it, those phones were configured and issued by the government; they were not personal. You are probably thinking of Hillary Clinton et al.
Yep. A lot of dudes where on these dudes nuts.
Its what happens when you have inexperienced folks and no real command and control at a “leadership team” level.
Pointing the fingers is silly and most of the veteran population knows.
SECDEF needs to own this bullshit and make the necessary corrections. Just be thankful it was something more important.
I ponder if Hegseth will go the way of the dumbass SecNav Thomas Modly. Perhaps he should resign.
Hegseth apparently never attended any form of War College, Staff College, etc and frankly it shows. Running DOD is a huge lift and not for amateurs. Using Signal for any government activity is a big fail. Unbelievable. Hell, the “plebes” at CIA, DIA, NSA, etc can’t even bring a cell phone into the building! The utter lack of professionalism is damn disappointing. Sigh, I had hoped for better.
IF it really happened. Tulsi and her folks should openly act on it and require those personnel involved to all, to include the SECDEF, if he was on the Chatroom to undergo the necessary corrective training.
Which if I am not mistaken is having your clearance and accesses temporarily revoked until the training is complete and having to sit through that slightly updated 1970 NSA briefing on Classification and handling of classified data!!
Then they can legally, and righteously, go after all those who gregariously mishandled classified information…such as having it on a home server!
A handful of high school chicks would have not even made this mistake.
Nobody can keep a secret like a bunch of high school mean girls. Conversely, nobody can produce an extremely damaging leak like a high school mean girl.
Who’s talking about mean girls?
I am talking about good girls!
Mean girls suck.
Good girls swallow.
50/50.
I got a minus for pointing out a bunch of people were swinging from these dudes ballsacks.
I can live with that.
The fact that you were downvoted show that most of the regulars on this blog are more loyal to Trump and his administration than they are to the country.
Hegseth is an incompetent clown who is completely unqualified for his position, and is Gabbard, and this administration refuses to take responsibility.
Kindly point out to those assembled where the actual security violation occurred. Take your time, I’ll wait. I’m a patient man. It’s a simple question, Commissar. Where is the security violation? What was the classified matter discussed?
Any reason other than bias that you insist that Trump and his administration be held to higher standards than previous democratic administrations?
Very sloppy. If Goldsmith had ANY class, whatsoever, he might have responded directly to Hegseth or Walz or any of those guys and mentioned that he had been included in the distribution.
When I have received stuff that was clearly not intended for me I have uniformly contacted the sender/originator and mentioned that I probably was not an intended participant or beneficiary of the information.
That’s what we call “cuttin’ some slack”. That sort of thing can go a LONG way with folks.
Yeah he should have WTF’d into that chat and told them to secure that shit. My “deep state” pals in DOD do indicate that Signal is indeed used at the highest level. It’s a RHIP thing sadly.
He is the media.
Goldberg has a record of being a TDS infected propagandist. There has never been nary a peep out of him about the security failures of D-rats, even when they caused deaths. Remember Benghazi? Buehler? Anyone? The A-Stan withdrawal? Gropey Joe’s highly classified docs in boxes in his garage and an unoccupied office? But like Hillary, all that was fine with Goldberg and his failing magazine for Progs.
It was an “accident” ….*cough cough*
unnamed sources…..
Boom…..learning curve…..
Never happened…Made up fake news…..
Oh Gee Really, Oops….My Bad.
Any number of things. I’ll give em a pass considering the things that have been accomplished in 8 weeks.
I’m waiting for a counter story. Something along the lines of –
“This was a Fortitude North type operation”.
Get a journal-idiot to report an imminent attack in one place, then strike in an unexpected place.
They were using unsecured person cell phones and a commercially available app.
And this is almost certainly not the first time.
But you give them a pass?
You are so full shit. Party > Country. Trump above all. Right?
The commercially available app is approved for governmental use and is installed on government cell phones and computers. Show me the proof that the government officials were using their private cell phones. Signal is absolutely authorized for non-classified use. Try again, you are absolutely wrong. Or, you are lying. Both things can be true, because you a fraud. You’re dismissed.
“using unsecured person cell phones…”
For someone who claims to be familiar with psyops(?) you seem to forget that propaganda is more effective when it stays as close to the truth as possible.
He spent most of his time as a Civil Affairs reserve officer. I am likely more knowledgeable about Psyops than he is. We were trained in it in Special Forces School in my SFOC course and I served in a Psyop Company for three years.
Was putting a journalist in the chat retarded? Yes.
Was using Signal authorized in general? Yes. It’s an app approved for DoD use and I had it on my phone for several jobs before I retired.
Was discussing policy, timing and details of a potential operation on Signal wise? Some yes, some no.
Were those details classified? Frankly, I’m not sure, not having read the details.
Did they reference going to “high side” systems for the specific details, indications they were appropriately differentiating between classified and unclassified? Yes.
Did something stupid occur? Yes.
Is it as egregious as the left will make it out to be? No.
Should something be done? Yes. But, fortunately, as a retiree, I no longer have to make judgement calls about things like what should happen.
Gee, I was just about to say all that.
Talk about stepping on your dick.
But no one here ever dickstepped and was forgiven, to go on to success.
Right?
*raises hand* ooh ooh, I got one!
Yes, I was forgiven for my trespasses more than once. But in all my years of wanker walking, OPSEC, INFOSEC, or any kind of security spill was never one of my steps.
So platforms like WhatsApp and Signal are exempt from FOIA and record retention laws, let alone secure network requirements?
Regardless of what was communicated and how much information was put out there, the optics are terrible. Might as well set up a Facebook page and let people comment there.
I don’t know about WhatsApp, but apparently, Signal meets all the retention laws, archival requirements, and FOIA criteria. I still think its a really bad idea to use it but I ain’t in the chain of approval.
WTF are these demoRats worried about the phone mistake, after all, these terrorists that were bombed are the demoRats friends and should be glad that there was a leak that would possibly not kill their compadres.
The US Army absolutely use Signal for about everything, short of tactical information.
I have always belonged to a bunch of chats that included times and locations to meet before SP, place and time the OPORD will be briefed, but not the OPORD itself.
Senior NCOs manage the roster of people in the chat, and routinely kick out people as they move to different jobs or units, losing the need-to-know for that specific chat group.
So I don’t believe that guy’s claim. He might have been added to a group chat in which some information was shared, but I strongly doubt the who, what, when, where, and why was in that group chat. But then, these are politicians, so who knows. They might not have the same security awareness. But my money is on this guy is lying and/or embellishing.
Anyway…
Not WhatsApp?
I read this morning that Waltz owned it. Glad he did it.
But he seemed to contradict a few others on the thread.
Get your shit together people.
I also wonder if Tim Sheehy knew?
Either way, I bet he is glad someone is talking about something else other than if he shot himself.
Geesh.
Lots of dishonest folks in both parties.
Having a hard time hearing through all the noise, and I have no more free time today to continue to try to sift through all the hyperbole, from both sides.
Who added this journalist to the chat? Who in the administration has the cell phone number, i.e., is in communication with the editor(?) of the left-wing Atlantic?
I believe it happened. I believe nothing “top secret” was disclosed. I believe this “journalist” is scum. Not for outing a mistake on the part of this administration but for not outing himself as soon as he saw he was where he wasn’t supposed to be.
I could see him coming forward if he had reached out to advise of the mistake and was rebuffed. But, if that happened, wouldn’t that have been part of his narrative from the start?
They discussed the specific details of the attack before the planes even left the ground.
Including specific details of the targets, time on target, aircraft involved, munitions involved, and origin of the aircraft.
This was absolutely classified for operational security reasons.
And they did it on a commercially available app using commercially available personal cell phones.
Stop twisting yourself in knots trying to find a reason to excuse this.
What fucking difference does it make how the reporter got invited? That was the more embarrassing fuck up, but the fact that they were even discussing this stuff using their personal cell phones and a commercial app is a bigger fuck up. It indicates they have been doing this for a while and that they don’t understand or don’t care about their basic responsibilities in handling and discussing classified information.
Everyone in that discussion violated several federal laws.
Show me transcripts of the conversation. Everything I saw is no different than an on-the-scene reporter describing the action and that ain’t exactly classified.
I think that the folks that spoke was enough.
Thanks for not answering my questions.
You should get used to it.
I’ve been waiting years for answers from him.
Used a commercially available app on commercially available unsecured phones to discuss the actionable details of a planned attack before the planes even left the ground.
These details included the targets, including named individuals targeted individuals, locations, aircraft being used, munitions, planned time on target, and origin of aircraft…
All this information is classified.
This was a massively incompetent operational security failure. And it seems pretty clear they have been using their personal cell phones and signal for other highly classified discussions.
The administration has refused to take any responsibility got any of this. Lying. Shifting blame to the reporter. Obfuscating by claiming they weren’t “war plans”, misleading by claiming nothing they said was marked as classified.
Trump has never taken responsibility for any fuck up or scandal. Even his own. He lies, obfuscates, and blames others. And he surrounds himself with people who won’t take responsibility either. They are lying obfuscating, and blaming others.
Pete Hegseth is an utterly unqualified DUI hire, he has no business in any senior position in national security or governance.
Tulsi Gabbard is completely unfit for DNI. She doesn’t even remotely meet the statutory requirements for the position and has zero intelligence experience (except as a possible Russian asset).
Her time as a reserve officer involved very little and very infrequent access to or handling of classified information and no real experience in protecting classified information. Her time as an enlisted soldier had even less experience with classified, if any at all.
She also is more loyal to her cult than she is to the country, her wearing white during public appearances is an expression of submission to her cult.
Her cult launders money for Russian and Indian oligarchs.
I know people that worked directly with Tulsi. None of them believe she is loyal to the United States.
“Her time as a reserve officer involved very little…”
And yours involved ….?
Yeah.
A, somewhat young, IN NG Officer that was not a V speaks volumes.
“And yours involved ….?”
IIRC, by his own admission, a Chinese girlfriend.
But I could be misremembering.
Chinese girlfriend… raging case of TDS… So… Commissar is actually Eric Swallwell?
Similar?
IIRC Commiesaur has or used to have a Chinese girlfriend.
If she was an actual CHICOM asset pumping him for HUMIT is beyond my knowledge.
“pumping him for HUMIT”
Mission failure.