Summary
Lawmakers from both parties expressed outrage after The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief revealed he was accidentally included in a Trump administration Signal chat discussing Yemen airstrikes.
Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.) and Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.) called for investigations and firings, labeling it a serious security breach.
Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) criticized the use of non-secure systems, warning that adversaries like Russia and China could exploit it.
Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) condemned the administration’s mishandling of classified information, saying it endangers national security.
Devil’s Advocate Hot Take:
This is an expression of power. An intentional leak to show that “We get to break rules, and you cannot.” We see it as incompetence and abject hypocrisy, but it could be a purposeful leak because they don’t care about being seen as hypocrites, they are about showing us they can get away with it. It could also be a Trial Balloon about the kind of wars they intend to wage.
/takes off tinfoil hat
I really think they really are just this stupid, but I think its at least worthwhile to consider the alternative, because a lot of what conservatives do is about using hypocrisy as a weapon and expression of power over others. They want us getting angry about such things, so they can can be cool and collected and say that we’re overreacting because they’re so calm while chuckling and sneering at us.
“But her emails!” Yeah they don’t actually give a shit, they may just want to show they can get away with it. Much like Trump rejecting using a government issued cell phone in his first term and Bush “losing” millions of emails.
There is exactly one political party that cares about hypocrisy.
And it ain’t the Republicans.
This is an expression of power. An intentional leak to show that “We get to break rules, and you cannot.”
Hanlon’s razor applies I think:
“Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by incompetence or stupidity”
I really think they really are just this stupid
Yep. They fired all the adults that think things through and provide rigor for a reason so the only people left are children doing whatever they want ignorant of the consequences.
No I’d say there’s absolutely a good share of malice in the mix with incompetence and stupidity.
Exactly. If they had wanted to intentionally leak classified information in order to move the overton window or something, they would have done it differently. They wouldn’t have had the VP disagreeing with Trump. They wouldn’t have actually leaked serious classified information, including the name of an active CIA officer. They wouldn’t have leaked it to the editor in chief of the Atlantic.
They fired all the adults that think things through and provide rigor for a reason so the only people left are children doing whatever they want ignorant of the consequences.
For example, they fired anyone who would otherwise have said “Folks, this is not an appropriate communications tool for classified information. This needs to be shared in a SCIF”.
Anybody who knows better also knows to keep their mouth shut if they want to keep their job in this admin. And even if keeping their job isn’t their priority, they know that if they speak up they risk being scapegoated, hung out to dry, and possibly killed by MAGA loyalists for daring to confront the king.
Being dumb is the meta rn
It’s the Russian way. Everyone knows things are shitty but everyone also feels powerless about it. Learned helplessness as a political strategy and the basis for a society.
As long as we’re putting on our tinfoil hats, it’s also possible that this was an intentional action taken against The Atlantic (or against Jeffrey Goldberg in particular). Trump’s admin has plenty of reasons to want to silence that publication, and might’ve hoped that by “accidentally” giving Goldberg access, they could entrap him into committing a crime (mishandling of classified material, espionage, etc).
With a little cooperation from the AG’s office, presto! You’ve got one of your biggest critics in jail, and sent a message to other would-be whistleblowers.
Reminds me of this from the Bush II years:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killian_documents_controversy
The Killian documents controversy (also referred to as Memogate or Rathergate) involved six documents containing false allegations about President George W. Bush’s service in the Texas Air National Guard in 1972–73, allegedly typed in 1973. Dan Rather presented four of these documents as authentic in a 60 Minutes II broadcast aired by CBS on September 8, 2004, less than two months before the 2004 presidential election, but it was later found that CBS had failed to authenticate them. Several typewriter and typography experts soon concluded that they were forgeries. Lieutenant Colonel Bill Burkett provided the documents to CBS, but he claims to have burned the originals after faxing them copies.
Anyway, interesting and worthwhile thing to consider.
Pretty good take. I agree they actually are this dumb, but not everyone involved is necessarily, so it’s wise to be aware of alternatives such as what you suggest.
The first part is purely conjecture of their intent. It is irrelevant and unknowable. The facts are they leaked this to a reporter. They should be held accountable based on the facts, not their intent.
They only have themselves to blame. If you’re actively destroying OPSEC you have no reason to fucking cry.
Congress: Somebody should really do something to rein this administration in!
The horrific absurdity is that even Trump was beginning sentences with “Somebody should …” AFTER he became president.
They are too used to the conspiracy-theorist, “humble-truth-finder” mindset EVEN when they are at the top.
I think Trump may do it just for the plausible deniability it implies.
Congress: why are the democrats silent?
Marco Rubio: “Alright, everybody, line up and get ready for the shooting of our own feet.”
McConnell: “Aren’t you guys going to do something about all this?”
Dems: “Like what? Go on tour?”
Dems: “Like what? Go on tour?”
Dems: “Our job is to convince American citizens that that Israel is a cool guy!”
Schumer’s just a cranky old man who still thinks bipartisanship is on the table.
Lots of petitions asking for him to resign as minority leader, and he’s so universally hated rn that he cancelled his book tour.
Cue schumer saying that we shouldn’t be hasty and should focus on bipartisan bills instead.
Nah, this is the kind of thing that gets Democrat leadership animated: stuff that barely affects voters.
Literally.
Guy sold have kept quiet and just relayed everything straight to Yemen.
Heads should roll? Maybe, if you ask nicely, the French may share some equipment and experience.
We actually preserved a few ones. We would be happy to provide. We can even take the 25% tarrif on our account.
Make it happen Senate. It’s literally your job. So fucking do it
Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) condemned it with the words “Nerf THIS!”
They’ve got nearly four more years left to completely screw something up.
They keep messing with things eventually they’ll cause catastrophe
Imagine that. You have unqualified amateurs in important government positions, and they don’t know what they’re doing.
But they claim that they know better than the actual experts they displace
Oh Im sorry, I thought you all quit.
I agree that “heads should roll”…literally.
- Guillotines for a better America
Good ad for Signal at least?
Pro: People learn about Signal Con: People learn about Signal in the context of a leak
Trump is probably all confused because he thought it was end to end encrypted and now he can’t understand how the guy got the messages.
He pulled the ol CC/BCC mistake.
“House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) offered more of a defensive response, arguing that the administration “has acknowledged it was a mistake.”” THEY LITERALLY DIDN’T. You have one of the guys from the chats saying ‘look how insightful this chat is we demonstrated impeccable leadership and no one was hurt (because the journalist was legit and didn’t offer the info to America’s enemies’
