Well, I hadn’t planned on talking about how infuriating it is to see incompetent men cosplaying at the highest levels of our government. But here we are.
By now you’ve no doubt heard that senior officials in the Trump administration including the Vice President, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, the National Security Advisor, and the Director of the CIA created and used a Signal chat group to discuss plans for a potential attack on Houthis. Signal is a commercial application that is not authorized for transmission of classified information. So the existence of and use of the chat itself is wildly dangerous, and (for various reasons) likely illegal.
But we know about this chat’s existence because these cabinet-level officials erroneously added the Editor In Chief of The Atlantic magazine to their chat – and never noticed.
And so there was the Editor of The Atlantic, privy to the real-time discussion about and operational details regarding an impending attack by American forces.
It’s a jaw-dropping, eye-popping display of ignorance.
And to make matters even worse (if that’s even possible), in the course of the chat they casually discussed their disgust with supporting our allies in Europe, calling them pathetic “freeloaders.” The CIA Director apparently outed – by name – a CIA operative. And their banter sounds like something from a fraternity, with fire and flag and fist emojis bandied about after bombs fell and human beings were killed.
(We now know, by the way, that some of the dozens killed and 100+ injured in the attack that prompted responses like “Great work and effects!” and “powerful start” were innocent women and children.)
Image Credit: The Atlantic
The implications for our national security are obvious and truly staggering. Not only does it show that our classified information is at risk because we are being led by careless buffoons – but it also puts us in a worse position to gather intelligence in the future.
If you were being recruited as an intelligence asset, would you trust a government with these people at the helm to keep your identity safe?
I think not.
In any rational world, all of them would resign out of shame. In any rational world, Republicans would stand up en masse and demand that they step down.
Sadly, we’re not in a rational world.
So I was as infuriated by this breach of trust as everyone else.
But there was something else nagging me – an electrical current amplifying the rage that I felt when I heard that war plans had been sent to a reporter by group text.
Because it’s yet another example of the double standard.
These white middle-aged men are flatly incompetent. They know it. I’m convinced that their insecurity eats at them, daily. It’s the gnawing hole in their psyche that they will never fill, no matter how many tattoos they get or titles they amass.
It’s why they have gone to great lengths to rid themselves of reminders of anyone else’s competence.
In fact, the mere existence of exceptional people shames them.
Photos, memorials, and websites dedicated to people who performed their duties with honor and dignity don’t inspire the likes of Hegseth and Rubio and Vance and Waltz. They simply remind these incompetent men of their own failings. So they destroy them. Hide them. Spirit them away so they don’t have to be confronted with their own failings.
Insecurity doesn’t allow for inclusion.
So it’s not just that we are being bombarded with their idiocy and the consequences of it. It’s that we have our noses shoved in it, constantly, as we are told that accomplished service members and heroes that aren’t white middle-aged men are “DEI” hires.
As we are told that our accomplishments are never enough, and that there is nothing we can do to earn their respect – we are also told that there is nothing they can do to lose the respect they never earned.
It’s the insult atop the injury.
Their elevation to positions of authority was a national embarrassment. Their continued service is now a national security threat.
It’s up to We The People now to convey how seriously we take this issue – and that we will not let it go. I was telling a friend this morning that I believe SignalGate has the potential to be extraordinarily difficult for the Trump administration, because they typically do things that are terrible but hard to understand.
This story is engaging, visual, and simple.
So let’s make sure it does not get lost in the next flurry of terrible news items (I believe they will try mightily to do that over the next few days). And there’s an easy way for you to help: Click on the stories. Share the content. Comment on the articles.
News organizations write more stories about content that gets engagement. So give them the engagement that will encourage them to continue focusing on this story. In doing so, you’ll also be spreading the story to people in your own network. It’s a win-win.
Let’s get to work.
Actions for the Week of March 25, 2025
Friend, things may be heavy – but you can lighten that load by doing something small – a “small deed” – to bring about the world that you want to see.
In doing so we tell the world, the universe, our leaders – and most importantly, ourselves – that we will not go quietly into that good night.
I call it Action Therapy.
That’s why in each Tuesday post I share a few “small things” – usually a Small Thing to Read, a Small Event to Attend, and a Small Call to Make or Action to Take. My intention here is to give you actions you can tuck into your week with ease – and know that you’re doing something today to make tomorrow better.
Join me in doing so. It matters.
Small Thing(s) to Read
First, if you have not yet read Time’s harrowing account of the conditions and treatment of the human beings who were sent to El Salvador by our government, please do. That anyone is being treated this way is horrific. People who were sent to El Salvador were not given due process – we have no idea who they are or what (if any) crimes they committed. To make it even worse, we are subsidizing this treatment with taxpayer funds. Read it here: https://time.com/7269604/el-salvador-photos-venezuelan-detainees/
Second, if you haven’t yet read the Atlantic piece, here it is: The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans. Every member of that chat group should be hauled before Congress (and, in my view, impeached and removed).
Small Event to Attend: Every State Blue Call with Jess Piper and Tristan Snell (and me!)!
On Thursday night, join yours truly along with Jessica Piper (the Executive Director of Blue Missouri and author of The View From Rural Missouri) to hear from attorney and author Tristan Snell. Tristan went toe-to-toe with Trump in court – and won. Since then he’s written a book and appeared on dozens of outlets, sharing his views on the current moment and how we can best meet it. I’m really looking forward to talking with him and hope you can join.
This is a joint Blue Missouri and Blue Tennessee call, but all are welcome. It’s at 6pm eastern on Thursday. Register here.
Small Action(s) to Take: Florida, Wisconsin, and Signal
First, Signal: We all need to call our Senators and Congresscritters and demand investigations into SignalGate. There are so many questions about what exactly happened and the long/short term national security implications. This is an ask you can make of either Democratic or Republican Members of Congress.
D.C. Switchboard: 202-224-3121
Script: Hi, my name is [name] and I’m calling from [zip code]. I’m calling because I’m horrified about the fact that classified information was being discussed by Signal group chat. I want the Senator/Congress(wo)man to demand hearings – we don’t know what other operations may have been exposed, what other Signal chat groups have been used, whether servicemembers have been endangered – and whether federal records have been destroyed in the use of this app. Everyone involved in this should resign, and the Senator/Congress(wo)man should demand that.
Second, Florida: On April 1 there will be two Congressional special elections in Florida. Looking for a way to pitch in? Check out this great volunteer hub that the Florida Dems have put together. There are many, many ways to pitch in listed in that google document.
Both districts were ones where Trump won handily in November, but regardless of the outcome, we all know that a strong showing in either or both will be a huge boost to Democrats (and a sign of elections to come). And reporting last night suggested that there are concerns by Republicans about lackluster fundraising. They’ve swooped in at the 11th hour, but it’s a good sign for Dems!
Third, Wisconsin Voter Outreach: There’s still time to empower and educate voters in advance of the elections in Wisconsin on April 1.
Join the Wisconsin dems for voter outreach phone banks, where they reach out to large lists of voters that likely need extra support to cast their ballot. This is proactive outreach. These groups will include people who moved within Wisconsin, past absentee voters, voters whose ballots were rejected in the past, young/first time voters, and more.
Sign up for a shift here: https://www.mobilize.us/dpw/event/753322/
Thanks for reading, friend – I’m glad to see you here! You’re making a difference, I promise.
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