👀 Waltz, SecDef SignalGate | Texts released

[nycfan]

Making this thread about the Atlantic Bombshell and starting a replacement Current Events thread.

Politics Thread 'CURRENT EVENTS MARCH 24 - 28'

Monday at 5:07 PM

Dedicated the original Current events thread to the insane Atlantic story about the top Administration officials copying a reporter into their secret discussions of war plans against Houthis in Yemen.

——

Trump’s Most Dangerous Enabler Is Not Who You Think It Is​

Kash Patel? Pam Bondi? Stephen Miller? No, no, and no. For now, the winner of this dubious title, and serial betrayer of his old principles, is the guy in Foggy Bottom.​

Trump’s Most Dangerous Enabler Is Not Who You Think It Is

Kash Patel? Pam Bondi? Stephen Miller? No, no, and no. For now, the winner of this dubious title, and serial betrayer of his old principles, is the guy in Foggy Bottom.

newrepublic.com

“… And yet, due to quirks in how Trump has pursued some of his most...

• nycfan
• Replies: 149
• Forum: Politics & Other Topics

—————-

Deportations Haven’t Surged Under Trump. But Here’s How They’ve Changed.

An analysis of flight data shows how the Trump administration is using extraordinary means to deport people.

www.nytimes.com

“… But even as immigration officials have escalated efforts to remove people from the United States, they continue to fall short of the mass deportations Mr. Trump vowed to carry out. Overall, the number of flights and their destinations look largely similar to those under President Joseph R. Biden Jr.

There have been 258 deportation flights since Mr. Trump took office, according to a New York Times review of an independent database, about the level in the final months of the Biden administration. Less typical: At least 31 flights were on military planes, which are much more expensive to operate than the chartered jets U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement uses.

… Typically, when people are deported, they are sent back to their country of origin. The Trump administration has been pushing for more third countries to accept deportees who are originally from elsewhere. In February, Costa Rica accepted a military flight carrying people from Central Asia and India, and Panama accepted people from Asia, the Middle East and Africa. …”

 

[nycfan]

‘They are being treated like dogs': Families concerned over living conditions at Krome Detention Center​

A video that has since gone viral shows people sleeping on the floor, and a man explains there is little to no food at Krome.​

‘They are being treated like dogs': Families concerned over living conditions at Krome Detention Center

Family members of detainees being held at Krome Detention Center are speaking out about the alleged harsh conditions of the facility.

www.nbcmiami.com

“… In February, Telemundo 51 reported on a Ukrainian man who died in the hospital after allegedly falling ill at Krome and not receiving adequate care.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said in a statement that while they can’t “provide population numbers due to operational and security concerns, some ICE facilities are experiencing temporary overcrowding due to recent increases in detention populations. We are actively implementing measures to manage capacity while maintaining compliance with federal standards and our commitment to humane treatment.”

To alleviate overcrowding concerns, ICE said they are transferring detainees to other facilities with available space, expediting case processing and working with local and state partners. …”






“A Ukrainian woman says she finds herself alone in the United States after her husband fell ill and died in the custody of U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) in west Miami-Dade County.

…The wife of 44-year-old Maksym Chernyak, who spoke to NBC6 on condition of anonymity, claims her husband did not suffer from any pre-existing medical condition. She alleges that he was not properly cared for at the Krome Detention Center when he started to feel sick.

Chernyak died on Feb. 20 at HCA Kendall Hospital in Miami while in ICE custody, according to the agency's website, which also notes that he was vomiting and having seizures. A doctor determined that the preliminary cause of death was a cerebral hemorrhage.

… had been arrested on Jan. 26 and accused of domestic violence in Broward County, although his wife says police misunderstood what had happened because he did not speak English fluently. On Feb. 2, he was transferred to the Krome Detention Center in ICE custody.

The couple had left Ukraine in August of last year on humanitarian parole, hoping for a shot at the American dream. Chernyak was authorized to stay in the U.S. through Aug. 23, 2026. Now, photos of happy memories are what remain. “

 

[nycfan]

Venezuela Accepts Flight Carrying Deportees From U.S. for First Time in Weeks​

The Department of Homeland Security said that a deportation flight to Venezuela carrying 199 people had landed.

Venezuela Accepts Flight Carrying Deportees From U.S. for First Time in Weeks

The Department of Homeland Security said that a deportation flight to Venezuela carrying 199 people had landed.

www.nytimes.com

“… The Trump administration has made it a priority to get the Venezuelan government to agree to accept flights carrying people deported from the United States. In recent years, hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans have entered the country amid a historic surge in migration, and during his campaign, President Trump vowed to carry out mass deportations and to send home migrants.

However, because the United States has limited diplomatic relations with the autocratic regime of Nicolás Maduro, the U.S. government has not been able to send regular deportation flights to Venezuela.

After briefly agreeing to accept flights after Mr. Trump took office, Mr. Maduro ceased doing so weeks ago, after the Trump administration revoked a Biden-era policy that had allowed more oil to be produced in Venezuela and exported.

Mr. Maduro then came under intense pressure from the Trump administration. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on social media that Venezuela would face new, “severe and escalating” sanctions if it refused to accept its repatriated citizens. This weekend, it announced it would take flights again beginning on Sunday.

The Venezuelan government’s willingness to resume accepting the flights also appeared related to the plight of Venezuelan migrants the Trump administration recently sent to a notorious prison in El Salvador with little to no due process. …”

 

[nycfan]

“Immigrant women say they were held "like animals" in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention and subjected to conditions so extreme they feared for their lives.

Chained for hours on a prison bus without access to food, water or a toilet. Told by guards to urinate on the floor. Held "like sardines in a jar," as many as 27 women in a small holding cell. Sleeping on a concrete floor. Getting one three-minute shower over three or four days in custody.

… Four women were held in February at the Krome North Processing Center in Miami – a detention center reserved for men. ICE took the women into custody on alleged immigration violations, but none has a criminal background, according to a review of law enforcement records. They shared their experiences with USA TODAY on condition of anonymity, fearing retaliation by the government because they are still detained.

… Last year, a report on unannounced inspections at 17 detention centers from 2020 to 2023 – bridging the Trump and Biden administrations – found that "regardless of time, location, detainee population and facility type, ICE and facility staff have struggled to comply with aspects of detention standards."

But the women's allegations at Krome, which was one of the 17 centers reviewed in the report, suggest detention conditions have deteriorated rapidly as the new Trump administration works to deliver on the president's promises for tougher immigration enforcement.

ICE reported holding 46,269 people in custody in mid-March, well above the agency's detention capacity of 41,500 beds. Immigration detention is "non-punitive," according to ICE policy, in recognition that most immigration violations are civil, not criminal.

… One of the four women wanted to explain what she went through to her fiance. She wrote what she remembered on paper and titled it "Hell on Earth."

… Krome is one of 130 ICE detention centers nationwide. Many of the facilities are privately run, including Krome, which is managed by Akima Infrastructure Protection under a $685 million contract. The company didn't respond to requests for comment.

In mid-February, when the four women were taken to Krome, ICE and its private contractor were holding 561 men, more than two-thirds of them with criminal records, according to government data. By mid-March, that number had increased to 604 men, again, most with criminal records. …”

 

[nycfan]

 

[nycfan]

 

[altmin]

Immigration crackdown now hitting green card holders

A former Hawaii resident, and longtime green card holder, is among those being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

www.hawaiinewsnow.com

Green card holders are officially Lawful Permanent Residents of the United States, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. But being a resident of the United States is very different from being a citizen.

Lewelyn Dixon immigrated from the Philippines to Hawaii 50 years ago. She graduated from Farrington High School and has been working as a lab technician at the University of Washington.

Dixon was returning home to Seattle from a family trip to the Philippines.

“She was there for like a couple of weeks. And then she returned on Feb. 28. And she was stuck in customs,” said her niece, Emily Cristobal.

“We got the news, I think it was March 2, that she go taken by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and then detained in the Northwestern detainment facility,” she said. “We haven’t officially been told why she’s being held. They just keep saying that they’re waiting for documents.”

Cristobal is also the office manager for state Rep. Tina Grandinetti, who’s pushing a bill to provide legal representation for immigrants in Hawaii.

“The targeting of our immigrant community is not just something happening on our phones and TV screens,” she said on the House floor. “This is a reality that’s impacting our staff, our friends, our families and our loved ones.”

 

[nycfan]

 

[nycfan]

 

[nycfan]

She is not a credible candidate for this role, not that it matters.

 

[nycfan]

Universities Sprint from ‘We Will Not Cower’ to Appeasing Trump​

With much of their funding at stake, schools are quietly hiring lobbyists and reaching out to politicians amid Washington’s quest to rein in academia​

https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/universities-trump-lobbyists-funding-washington-a2e5c77a?st=2Z3w1m&reflink=mobilewebshare_permalink

“… University presidents have poured into Washington this year to meet with lawmakers and try to shore up support. Some schools have handed out talking points about the value of research funding and endowments to high-profile alumni. And they’re hiring new help: More than 50 colleges and universities, including big-name institutions like Harvard, Columbia and Yale, have hired new lobbyists since Trump was re-elected, disclosures show.

Stanford University tapped former Republican Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, among others. Duke University and Wake Forest University have hired Richard Burr, a former Republican Senator. Harvard and Nashville-based Vanderbilt University have sought out Ballard Partners, whose principal Brian Ballard is known for his close connections to Trump’s circle.

The day after Trump was elected to chair the board of Washington’s John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, hundreds of higher education leaders gathered in an auditorium there for a briefing from a leading trade group, the American Council on Education.

The group’s president, Ted Mitchell vowed a fight, saying, “We will not cower,” according to trade industry reports and people who saw the speech. But speakers also acknowledged the speed of Trump’s actions have caused fear and overwhelmed the sector. …

… Smaller liberal-arts colleges have their own case to make. Douglas Hicks, president of North Carolina-based Davidson College—which is perhaps best known as the alma mater of basketball star Stephen Curry—was on Capitol Hill last week explaining how an endowment tax would hurt the college’s ability to provide financial aid to students.

…
Davidson has also hired a lobbyist for the first time in modern memory and is working with a coalition of other small liberal-arts colleges that hired its own firm in Washington.

The group is trying to listen first and ask questions later, Hicks and others familiar with the effort said. They arrive at meetings armed with data about how changes could hurt students at small schools where endowment money helps fund financial aid. And they patiently answer questions about potential antisemitism on campus.

“Taking a combative approach is a last resort,” Hicks said. “Building relationships and communicating what our values are is always preferable.”“

 

[Calheel]

She is not a credible candidate for this role, not that it matters.

But maybe she is the right person to crack down on New Jersey parking garage fraud.

 

[nycfan]

 

[nycfan]

JFC. Amateurs … I mean

 

[nycfan]

JFC. Amateurs … I mean

“… The reason I knew this is that Pete Hegseth, the secretary of defense, had texted me the war plan at 11:44 a.m. The plan included precise information about weapons packages, targets, and timing.

… On Tuesday, March 11, I received a connection request on Signal from a user identified as Michael Waltz. Signal is an open-source encrypted messaging service popular with journalists and others who seek more privacy than other text-messaging services are capable of delivering.

I assumed that the Michael Waltz in question was President Donald Trump’s national security adviser. I did not assume, however, that the request was from the actual Michael Waltz. I have met him in the past, and though I didn’t find it particularly strange that he might be reaching out to me, I did think it somewhat unusual, given the Trump administration’s contentious relationship with journalists—and Trump’s periodic fixation on me specifically.

It immediately crossed my mind that someone could be masquerading as Waltz in order to somehow entrap me. It is not at all uncommon these days for nefarious actors to try to induce journalists to share information that could be used against them.

I accepted the connection request, hoping that this was the actual national security adviser, and that he wanted to chat about Ukraine, or Iran, or some other important matter.

Two days later—Thursday—at 4:28 p.m., I received a notice that I was to be included in a Signal chat group. It was called the “Houthi PC small group.” …”

 

[nycfan]

“… The reason I knew this is that Pete Hegseth, the secretary of defense, had texted me the war plan at 11:44 a.m. The plan included precise information about weapons packages, targets, and timing.

… On Tuesday, March 11, I received a connection request on Signal from a user identified as Michael Waltz. Signal is an open-source encrypted messaging service popular with journalists and others who seek more privacy than other text-messaging services are capable of delivering.

I assumed that the Michael Waltz in question was President Donald Trump’s national security adviser. I did not assume, however, that the request was from the actual Michael Waltz. I have met him in the past, and though I didn’t find it particularly strange that he might be reaching out to me, I did think it somewhat unusual, given the Trump administration’s contentious relationship with journalists—and Trump’s periodic fixation on me specifically.

It immediately crossed my mind that someone could be masquerading as Waltz in order to somehow entrap me. It is not at all uncommon these days for nefarious actors to try to induce journalists to share information that could be used against them.

I accepted the connection request, hoping that this was the actual national security adviser, and that he wanted to chat about Ukraine, or Iran, or some other important matter.

Two days later—Thursday—at 4:28 p.m., I received a notice that I was to be included in a Signal chat group. It was called the “Houthi PC small group.” …”

“… A message to the group, from “Michael Waltz,” read as follows: “Team – establishing a principles [sic] group for coordination on Houthis, particularly for over the next 72 hours. My deputy Alex Wong is pulling together a tiger team at deputies/agency Chief of Staff level following up from the meeting in the Sit Room this morning for action items and will be sending that out later this evening.”

The message continued, “Pls provide the best staff POC from your team for us to coordinate with over the next couple days and over the weekend. Thx.”

The term principals committee generally refers to a group of the senior-most national-security officials, including the secretaries of defense, state, and the treasury, as well as the director of the CIA.

It should go without saying—but I’ll say it anyway—that I have never been invited to a White House principals-committee meeting, and that, in my many years of reporting on national-security matters, I had never heard of one being convened over a commercial messaging app.

One minute later, a person identified only as “MAR”—the secretary of state is Marco Antonio Rubio—wrote, “Mike Needham for State,” apparently designating the current counselor of the State Department as his representative.

At that same moment, a Signal user identified as “JD Vance” wrote, “Andy baker for VP.”

One minute after that, “TG” (presumably Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, or someone masquerading as her) wrote, “Joe Kent for DNI.”

Nine minutes later, “Scott B”—apparently Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, or someone spoofing his identity, wrote, “Dan Katz for Treasury.”

At 4:53 p.m., a user called “Pete Hegseth” wrote, “Dan Caldwell for DoD.” And at 6:34 p.m., “Brian” wrote “Brian McCormack for NSC.”

One more person responded: “John Ratcliffe” wrote at 5:24 p.m. with the name of a CIA official to be included in the group. I am not publishing that name, because that person is an active intelligence officer. …”

 

[nycfan]

“… A message to the group, from “Michael Waltz,” read as follows: “Team – establishing a principles [sic] group for coordination on Houthis, particularly for over the next 72 hours. My deputy Alex Wong is pulling together a tiger team at deputies/agency Chief of Staff level following up from the meeting in the Sit Room this morning for action items and will be sending that out later this evening.”

The message continued, “Pls provide the best staff POC from your team for us to coordinate with over the next couple days and over the weekend. Thx.”

The term principals committee generally refers to a group of the senior-most national-security officials, including the secretaries of defense, state, and the treasury, as well as the director of the CIA.

It should go without saying—but I’ll say it anyway—that I have never been invited to a White House principals-committee meeting, and that, in my many years of reporting on national-security matters, I had never heard of one being convened over a commercial messaging app.

One minute later, a person identified only as “MAR”—the secretary of state is Marco Antonio Rubio—wrote, “Mike Needham for State,” apparently designating the current counselor of the State Department as his representative.

At that same moment, a Signal user identified as “JD Vance” wrote, “Andy baker for VP.”

One minute after that, “TG” (presumably Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, or someone masquerading as her) wrote, “Joe Kent for DNI.”

Nine minutes later, “Scott B”—apparently Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, or someone spoofing his identity, wrote, “Dan Katz for Treasury.”

At 4:53 p.m., a user called “Pete Hegseth” wrote, “Dan Caldwell for DoD.” And at 6:34 p.m., “Brian” wrote “Brian McCormack for NSC.”

One more person responded: “John Ratcliffe” wrote at 5:24 p.m. with the name of a CIA official to be included in the group. I am not publishing that name, because that person is an active intelligence officer. …”

“… At this point, a fascinating policy discussion commenced.

The account labeled “JD Vance” responded at 8:16: “Team, I am out for the day doing an economic event in Michigan. But I think we are making a mistake.” (Vance was indeed in Michigan that day.) The Vance account goes on to state, “3 percent of US trade runs through the suez. 40 percent of European trade does. There is a real risk that the public doesn’t understand this or why it’s necessary. The strongest reason to do this is, as POTUS said, to send a message.”

The Vance account then goes on to make a noteworthy statement, considering that the vice president has not deviated publicly from Trump’s position on virtually any issue. “I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now. There’s a further risk that we see a moderate to severe spike in oil prices. I am willing to support the consensus of the team and keep these concerns to myself. But there is a strong argument for delaying this a month, doing the messaging work on why this matters, seeing where the economy is, etc.”

A person identified in Signal as “Joe Kent” (Trump’s nominee to run the National Counterterrorism Center is named Joe Kent) wrote at 8:22, “There is nothing time sensitive driving the time line. We’ll have the exact same options in a month.”

Then, at 8:26 a.m., a message landed in my Signal app from the user “John Ratcliffe.” The message contained information that might be interpreted as related to actual and current intelligence operations.

At 8:27, a message arrived from the “Pete Hegseth” account.

“VP: I understand your concerns – and fully support you raising w/ POTUS. Important considerations, most of which are tough to know how they play out (economy, Ukraine peace, Gaza, etc). I think messaging is going to be tough no matter what – nobody knows who the Houthis are – which is why we would need to stay focused on: 1) Biden failed & 2) Iran funded.”

The Hegseth message goes on to state, “Waiting a few weeks or a month does not fundamentally change the calculus. 2 immediate risks on waiting: 1) this leaks, and we look indecisive; 2) Israel takes an action first – or Gaza cease fire falls apart – and we don’t get to start this on our own terms. We can manage both. We are prepared to execute, and if I had final go or no go vote, I believe we should. This [is] not about the Houthis. I see it as two things: 1) Restoring Freedom of Navigation, a core national interest; and 2) Reestablish deterrence, which Biden cratered. But, we can easily pause. And if we do, I will do all we can to enforce 100% OPSEC”—operations security. “I welcome other thoughts.”

A few minutes later, the “Michael Waltz” account posted a lengthy note about trade figures, and the limited capabilities of European navies. “Whether it’s now or several weeks from now, it will have to be the United States that reopens these shipping lanes. Per the president’s request we are working with DOD and State to determine how to compile the cost associated and levy them on the Europeans.” …”

 

[nycfan]

“… At this point, a fascinating policy discussion commenced.

The account labeled “JD Vance” responded at 8:16: “Team, I am out for the day doing an economic event in Michigan. But I think we are making a mistake.” (Vance was indeed in Michigan that day.) The Vance account goes on to state, “3 percent of US trade runs through the suez. 40 percent of European trade does. There is a real risk that the public doesn’t understand this or why it’s necessary. The strongest reason to do this is, as POTUS said, to send a message.”

The Vance account then goes on to make a noteworthy statement, considering that the vice president has not deviated publicly from Trump’s position on virtually any issue. “I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now. There’s a further risk that we see a moderate to severe spike in oil prices. I am willing to support the consensus of the team and keep these concerns to myself. But there is a strong argument for delaying this a month, doing the messaging work on why this matters, seeing where the economy is, etc.”

A person identified in Signal as “Joe Kent” (Trump’s nominee to run the National Counterterrorism Center is named Joe Kent) wrote at 8:22, “There is nothing time sensitive driving the time line. We’ll have the exact same options in a month.”

Then, at 8:26 a.m., a message landed in my Signal app from the user “John Ratcliffe.” The message contained information that might be interpreted as related to actual and current intelligence operations.

At 8:27, a message arrived from the “Pete Hegseth” account.

“VP: I understand your concerns – and fully support you raising w/ POTUS. Important considerations, most of which are tough to know how they play out (economy, Ukraine peace, Gaza, etc). I think messaging is going to be tough no matter what – nobody knows who the Houthis are – which is why we would need to stay focused on: 1) Biden failed & 2) Iran funded.”

The Hegseth message goes on to state, “Waiting a few weeks or a month does not fundamentally change the calculus. 2 immediate risks on waiting: 1) this leaks, and we look indecisive; 2) Israel takes an action first – or Gaza cease fire falls apart – and we don’t get to start this on our own terms. We can manage both. We are prepared to execute, and if I had final go or no go vote, I believe we should. This [is] not about the Houthis. I see it as two things: 1) Restoring Freedom of Navigation, a core national interest; and 2) Reestablish deterrence, which Biden cratered. But, we can easily pause. And if we do, I will do all we can to enforce 100% OPSEC”—operations security. “I welcome other thoughts.”

A few minutes later, the “Michael Waltz” account posted a lengthy note about trade figures, and the limited capabilities of European navies. “Whether it’s now or several weeks from now, it will have to be the United States that reopens these shipping lanes. Per the president’s request we are working with DOD and State to determine how to compile the cost associated and levy them on the Europeans.” …”

… The account identified as “JD Vance” addressed a message at 8:45 to @Pete Hegseth: “if you think we should do it let’s go. I just hate bailing Europe out again.” (The administration has argued that America’s European allies benefit economically from the U.S. Navy’s protection of international shipping lanes.)

The user identified as Hegseth responded three minutes later: “VP: I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. It’s PATHETIC. But Mike is correct, we are the only ones on the planet (on our side of the ledger) who can do this. Nobody else even close. Question is timing. I feel like now is as good a time as any, given POTUS directive to reopen shipping lanes. I think we should go; but POTUS still retains 24 hours of decision space.”



…

At 11:44 a.m., the account labeled “Pete Hegseth” posted in Signal a “TEAM UPDATE.” I will not quote from this update, or from certain other subsequent texts. The information contained in them, if they had been read by an adversary of the United States, could conceivably have been used to harm American military and intelligence personnel, particularly in the broader Middle East, Central Command’s area of responsibility. What I will say, in order to illustrate the shocking recklessness of this Signal conversation, is that the Hegseth post contained operational details of forthcoming strikes on Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying, and attack sequencing. …”

 

[superrific]

JD Vance really is a hateful man. Apparently his anti-European sentiment isn't an act -- he genuinely hates them.

Weird, since he converted to Catholicism, and the Catholic Church . . . oh, never mind.

 

[nycfan]

… The account identified as “JD Vance” addressed a message at 8:45 to @Pete Hegseth: “if you think we should do it let’s go. I just hate bailing Europe out again.” (The administration has argued that America’s European allies benefit economically from the U.S. Navy’s protection of international shipping lanes.)

The user identified as Hegseth responded three minutes later: “VP: I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. It’s PATHETIC. But Mike is correct, we are the only ones on the planet (on our side of the ledger) who can do this. Nobody else even close. Question is timing. I feel like now is as good a time as any, given POTUS directive to reopen shipping lanes. I think we should go; but POTUS still retains 24 hours of decision space.”



…

At 11:44 a.m., the account labeled “Pete Hegseth” posted in Signal a “TEAM UPDATE.” I will not quote from this update, or from certain other subsequent texts. The information contained in them, if they had been read by an adversary of the United States, could conceivably have been used to harm American military and intelligence personnel, particularly in the broader Middle East, Central Command’s area of responsibility. What I will say, in order to illustrate the shocking recklessness of this Signal conversation, is that the Hegseth post contained operational details of forthcoming strikes on Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying, and attack sequencing. …”

“… According to the lengthy Hegseth text, the first detonations in Yemen would be felt two hours hence, at 1:45 p.m. eastern time. So I waited in my car in a supermarket parking lot. If this Signal chat was real, I reasoned, Houthi targets would soon be bombed. At about 1:55, I checked X and searched Yemen. Explosions were then being heard across Sanaa, the capital city.

I went back to the Signal channel.

At 1:48, “Michael Waltz” had provided the group an update. Again, I won’t quote from this text, except to note that he described the operation as an “amazing job.” A few minutes later, “John Ratcliffe” wrote, “A good start.” Not long after, Waltz responded with three emoji: a fist, an American flag, and fire. Others soon joined in, including “MAR,” who wrote, “Good Job Pete and your team!!,” and “Susie Wiles,” who texted, “Kudos to all – most particularly those in theater and CENTCOM! Really great. God bless.” “Steve Witkoff” responded with five emoji: two hands-praying, a flexed bicep, and two American flags. “TG” responded, “Great work and effects!” The after-action discussion included assessments of damage done, including the likely death of a specific individual. The Houthi-run Yemeni health ministry reported that at least 53 people were killed in the strikes, a number that has not been independently verified.

… The Signal chat group, I concluded, was almost certainly real. Having come to this realization, one that seemed nearly impossible only hours before, I removed myself from the Signal group, understanding that this would trigger an automatic notification to the group’s creator, “Michael Waltz,” that I had left. No one in the chat had seemed to notice that I was there. And I received no subsequent questions about why I left—or, more to the point, who I was.

Earlier today, I emailed Waltz and sent him a message on his Signal account. I also wrote to Pete Hegseth, John Ratcliffe, Tulsi Gabbard, and other officials. In an email, I outlined some of my questions: Is the “Houthi PC small group” a genuine Signal thread? Did they know that I was included in this group? Was I (on the off chance) included on purpose? If not, who did they think I was? Did anyone realize who I was when I was added, or when I removed myself from the group? Do senior Trump-administration officials use Signal regularly for sensitive discussions? Do the officials believe that the use of such a channel could endanger American personnel?

Brian Hughes, the spokesman for the National Security Council, responded two hours later, confirming the veracity of the Signal group.

“This appears to be an authentic message chain, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain,” Hughes wrote. “The thread is a demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials. The ongoing success of the Houthi operation demonstrates that there were no threats to troops or national security.”

William Martin, a spokesperson for Vance, said that despite the impression created by the texts, the vice president is fully aligned with the president.

“The Vice President’s first priority is always making sure that the President’s advisers are adequately briefing him on the substance of their internal deliberations,” he said.

“Vice President Vance unequivocally supports this administration’s foreign policy. The President and the Vice President have had subsequent conversations about this matter and are in complete agreement.”

I have never seen a breach quite like this. It is not uncommon for national-security officials to communicate on Signal. 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.

Conceivably, Waltz, by coordinating a national-security-related action over Signal, may have violated several provisions of the Espionage Act, which governs the handling of “national defense” information, according to several national-security lawyers interviewed by my colleague Shane Harris for this story. …”