By Ben Meiselas
You truly can’t make this stuff up. In one of the most explosive and disturbing moments I’ve seen during my time covering national security, members of Donald Trump’s inner circle were caught red-handed leaking highly sensitive military information—on a Signal group chat—and Republicans seem to think that’s just fine.
I sat down with Congressman Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, to get to the bottom of this. And what we uncovered should make every American furious.
Let me set the scene: Trump loyalists, including former officials like Kash Patel and Pete Hegseth, were using a Signal chat to share real-time details about a classified military strike. We're talking drone launch sequences, weather updates, weapon systems—details that could have gotten American troops killed if our adversaries caught wind of it.
Congressman Himes didn’t hold back. He said point blank: this can never happen again. And yet, Republicans are out here treating it like an “oopsie.” If this had happened under President Biden, they’d be staging a coup in the Capitol rotunda.
Instead, we’re dealing with a party that has surrendered completely to Donald Trump’s chaos. Himes described how GOP members—many of whom once proudly called themselves “national security hawks”—are now too scared of Trump's base to even raise a whisper of dissent. They're too busy cosplaying as patriots while actively putting American lives in danger.
It’s not just outrageous—it’s dangerous. Himes told me the whole thing reeks of pattern and practice, meaning this wasn’t a one-off mistake. It’s how Trump’s people do business. “Playing soldier,” as Himes put it. Except this isn’t Call of Duty—it’s real life, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
And don’t get me started on Tulsi Gabbard, now Trump’s DNI, who justified reposting Russian propaganda because, hey, First Amendment rights. The head of the U.S. intelligence community is retweeting Kremlin-tied content. We’ve crossed into full-blown absurdity.
This interview is a must-watch if you want to understand just how deep the rot goes in MAGA-world.
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Pam Bondi is nothing but an empty pair of smelly, run-down heels.
Why isn’t anyone talking about the missing FOUR Americans feared dead in the Lithuanian area near Russia? Maybe Hegseth was too drunk to brief our President who doesn’t appear to know about it.
https://olgalautman.substack.com/p/pax-americana-episode-2-recap
“… AP reported that 4 US soldiers are believed to have died in a training accident in Lithuania. The US Army found the Hercules armored vehicle the four soldiers were in during a training exercise in a submerged muddy swamp.
… Trump was asked about the incident in the Oval Office 8 hours after it was first reported. He said he didn’t know anything about it.
… Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA): “He fired thousands of veterans across the govt. His team carelessly shares info that puts our pilots at risk. He doesn’t care to know about missing American soldiers? What more proof do we need that this man doesn’t give a damn about the heroes who protect us?” “
https://open.substack.com/pub/meidastouch/p/today-in-politics-bulletin-99-32725
It’s disgraceful that not a word has been said about these four missing, likely dead, troops. My feeling is that Trump doesn’t want Americans equating war with death because he is very close to sending our troops to war to claim Greenland, Canada, and the Panama Canal.
He is a disgusting excuse for a commander in chief, let alone a human being. My heart goes out to these soldier’s families.
I'm praying the military will refuse to be the ICE and HLS Gestapo. Our troops will not invade Greenland, Canada or Panama. I pray they get rid of him before anything like that can happen. Remove all the traitors and charge them with treason and prison for life, where they all belong. No mercy.
And most likely were killed by the Russians, Trump’s new “buddy”
That’s also how Trump answers when he doesn’t want to answer. He’s done it in depositions that have been shown to the public.
Exactly. He's not a presidents rear end! Well he sold the presidency to musk and putin. We can't expect him to care, he's a malignant narcissist
No great secret here, it's because the Baltic states are on the frontline. If Ukraine falls, they are next. While the UK has troops in Estonia, they are no way ready to blunt a Russian attack. On any attack into the Baltics, that's on our plate because we're the best prepared, the best capable force. Trump/Hegseth are looking at it from the perspective of the board game, Risk, which I played with my friends as kids.
Hey. Don't forget she keeps the vampires away with that overly conspicuous cross. That's her only skillset.
Yeah, her, and KKKaroline, and Marge the Barge and Boobala Boebert. Ugh. The ultimate hypocrites.
Kim is a scammer. Reported.
she is a barbie-vampire.
I keep waiting for it to start sizzling and smoking! 😂
Well bronzed and getting long in the tooth.
Like her friend MTG 😂
Trump bought her off back when she was AG in Florida
Yep.
Do you think it’s possible that Trump is blackmailing some of the GOP with info about their involvement t with Jeffrey Epstein?
He Will Never Let That Ho Out To The People and They Should Realize That TRUMPS NAME IS ALL OVER THE EPSTEIN FILES AS WELL, So What Are They Worried About?
Hard to say, but I would not be at all surprised if some of their names are in that mess. According to their colleagues, he is definitely threatening them with his MAGA army of thugs. Some are afraid. Some don't want to hire security. Some of their families have pressured them to go along to get along so that they personally do not have to be inconvenienced. The people that voted them into office take a back seat to that.
Almost certainly. Too many ReTrumplicans 'change their minds' after he speaks to them.
Good possibility but he’s got the tea, whether it’s cheating, bi-curious, embezzlement something it’s got to be something that has them acting dumb, blind and crazy and stupid!!!💯🥊
Yes
No doubt high level corruption and extortion. He's a criminal, everything he does is illegal. I'm sure musk and trump have lots of get rich quick schemes that they can be a part of if they stick with him. If not, he'd threaten them with prison.
They'd be letting everyone know, all the time that they're the two most powerful men in the world. Can't wait to see them both arrested and behind bars.
Bing, Dee Joy!! I love your comments 'cause you seem to be quick to understand kind of person!!
So it's ok for Tulsi to use her first amendment rights but not protesters What???
It gets worse everyday.
her kgb schooling screams as she spews.
Bolton, Milley, Esper, Kelley have all said that Trump is a National Security threat. It didn't take 90 days to prove them right. Trump and his appointees are a bunch of incompetent more ons.
Already in his first reign of terror 2016-2021, mind you.
I find it interesting that through all this Trump has said he didn’t know about any of it. At first I thought he was doing his usual CYA, but I’m starting to think he really didn’t know about it. And these people are making these decisions behind his back.
I don't think he does know anything and I don't think they tell him unless they need his signature. Other nefarious and criminal elements are running our government right now.
I feel he doesnt want to know. He's was only in for this to save his ass frim jail and make $$$ while hes in offuce. He, like his minions, kniw nothing about running a country and it shows. He turned it all over to these idiots and when the shit hits the fan he can say, he didn't know anything, next question?
Bingo, MARGIE!!
Just a thought. Republicans know this is their only chance. If they don’t accomplish their 2025 goals before the midterms they’re done. So they are trying everything. Throwing everything at the country. We have to resist every way. Through the courts, the ballot box, online shaming them, protesting. They know their agenda is not popular. They know it’s going to hurt people and they don’t care. It’s all about the power and the money.
1000%
Millions percent!!
Any body other than our top officials who was part of this text should start telling the truth and let those be held accountable instead of saying it’s ok when it’s not. Save America before we totally give it to Trump
Why did you not support Congressman Green? MTG never got censured.
Indeed. Jim Himes being one of the 10 shameful Ds censoring the excellent Al Green (D-TX) was a puzzling disappointment.
100 per cent right on Bondi.....and the other idiot Press Secretary..she needs to be re-educated on law,etc....Both are prostituting themselves for this administration....sorry for those words but couldn't find anything better....Their tongues are also heated up with worthless information.
I have significantly harsher words for tRumputinist bimbos but I'm ever so hardly biting my tongue.
Dems!! Don't Get Slushied By Semantics. Maybe drop the “CLASSIFIED” info moniker, and designate it as "CONFIDENTIAL" Information. Dems, stop letting them embroil you in semantic tangles!! Leave "Classified" to yesterday's toilet flush.
Start the instantaneous inclusion of CONFIDENTIAL /SECRET /SECURE MILITARY OPERATIONS
My dear DEMS - DON'T replay the irreversible Faux Pas of the Mar-a-Lago "CLASSIFIED Documents" scandal. Did we NOT learn our lesson?? Classified Schmassified!!
🚫🚫🚫🚫 CLASSIFIED🚫🚫🚫🚫
Replace with:
✅CONFIDENTIAL
✅SECRET
✅SENSITIVE
✅SECURE MILITARY COMPONENTS
✅PRIVATE MANEUVERS
✅TOP LEVEL COMMUNICATION
Good points!! It should be enough to say - Top Secret Information!!
What's really funny about all this is the fact that Pete Hegseth is doing "the coolest job" according the MAGA in the vein of masculinity and how a man's masculinity is the epitome of being a man in MAGA... Drooled about by the rest of MAGA... And Pete was doing THE LEAST when it comes to his masculinity in his new job. He could have gone all out- sitting in a badass super secret room using cool tech or whatever to communicate with his team, but instead he was texting. on an app. using emojis. It's just so. fucking. sad. He could be living those binge drinking fantasies of badass masculinity of blowing shit up while having a penis!!! But he was texting. on his phone. and using emojis.
magats' ideal of masculinity is being slaves to midget terrorist putin of russia. enough said.
I just saw an awesome viral video of a military wife with a husband in Yemen. She totally blasted the administration. Ben, you should find that one and use it!
Not one member of this security committee thought to write “Stop. This is the wrong app to be discussing this. “. Every one of them should have known better. Not just Waltz. He shouldn’t get to sacrifice himself to get the others off the hook. All are equally guilty. All should be fired. Including our uninvolved President —Trump I mean, not President Musk. Although Musk should be investigated for election interference among other things.
Hard to believe this is happening. Our country is in serious trouble. What are we leaving to our kids?? Wise up red states, maga, Trump supporters, if that's even possible.
Fantastic coverage. You are my go-to news source! If the regime still has one glimmer of shame you must be hitting it hard every day.
Yes the next missions those pilots have to go on will be with great trepidation. As far as Tulsi Gabbard . Well what can one say. Can't remember where she was when she received the intel. Can't remember which phone she was using. It''s sad that Tulsi uses the Freedom of Speech clause to spew her treachery. Mr. Hegseth seem to be in the wrong posting. Hopefully he does not send his intel through Tik Tok or Facebook.
yep, it is extremely sad that quisling, traitorous terrorists magats keep abusing the freedom of speech for a decade, I repeat, for a decade, at least!!
Treasonous TrumPutin jokes about National Security to the United States and our allies. He's a traitor, calm him what it is.
Perhaps Muskolini has M13 on his group text! Oops!
Great interview Ben,
I love Mr Himes. Please have him on every week. He's so knowledgeable and qualified and so articulate unlike the maga infestation of criminals in the WH atm.
He is standing up for the people. Very courageous.
Do everything they can to get rid of this ridiculous regime. How did a bunch of criminal clowns even get near the WH? I know!! They've been supported by traitor judges in SCOTUS, congress and republicans. Did he promise you all get rich schemes??They're all blinded by extreme greed. Reprehensible!!
Giving traitor trump immunity?? How dense do you have to be?? We know who you are. We will not forget and we will not be forgiving. No mercy for supporting this evil regime-in anyway!!Remember the Nuremberg Trials?? We will be coming for you all.
Yes!!
it's why I was perplexed why was Himes among those Ds who joined tRumputinists to censor the most genuine Democrat Al Green (D-TX).
He won’t allow us to have any more elections Remember he said if you vote for me you won’t have to vote again
💯💯 percent, I hope the democrats have a game plan!!
Both trump and musk are walking around and doing stuff like they are going to be in charge forever!!
Something smells fishy!!
If this election was any sign then Trump will be around forever
The Dishonorable Tulsi Gabbard
Exactly right. Doubt this was the only conversation. Clueless incompetent idiots.
Please, read the outstanding Timothy Snyder - https://snyder.substack.com/p/signalgate-violating-national-security
Tulsi Gabbard is a disgrace, an embarrassment and a liar.
Stop the “If this had been done in the Biden Administration” whaa, whaa, whaa. This is the administration we have now, and we’re faced with a deluge of lunatics. There’s no comparison. Deal with the Devils we have! Not the so-called devils they say we had. Am so f’ing sick of our weak responses to the evil confonting us!
Indeed!! If Presidents Obama or Biden even dared to think of doing even a millionth particle of shit tRumputin says, does every minute, magats would've literally torn apart the Presidents Obama or Biden. There is NO comparison. So no need to waste the breath in that narrative.
No. Step 1 is these Signal Chat people resign. Step 2: investigate what to do to prevent this to happen again. Step 3: See how deep the danger to our security exists. Stop going to Step 3 before Step 1. God, stop falling into “delay, delay, delay” tactics.!!!
Finally calling the liars liars to their fucking traitorous faces
This is brilliant. I love these short podcasts, manageable & rich. Ben your questions are spot on, and we get everything we need. This is a great interview. Thank you!
Head shaking unbelievable…
Do you think they are even smart enough to know they are playing at it? Their egos are in the way.
I have a friend who commands troops in the Air Force. She told her troops that if they EVER use non-secure media to discuss any military movement or activity, they will be court- martialed . She got questions of “But, but , what about….?” Her reply: “ I know. But you WILL be court-martialed!”
What can NEVER happen again is this traitorous group of people being allowed to continue making decisions for this country!
Jesus will someday deport all Republicans and Christian Nationalists to Hell.
No, he will forgive them. Because that’s what Jesus does.
i FOOD FOR THOUGHT: ZI just reviewed the American Bar Association's (A.B.A.) views on DJT.
Perhaps if many more citizens wrote a cogent complaint to your local State's Bar Association, Ethics Department along to CC: the A.B.A. regarding the gross dereliction of duty to protect our citizens and their egregious acts by so many of HIS Cabinet members/staff into this major security breach, these (complaint) documents could light a fire under these members to formally open an investigation into these band of fibbers!!
Enough already!
I enjoyed reading these members of the MTN comments. Thank you again for all your hard work
Can Congress vote to undo their approval of a cabinet member?
None of this matters until ALL of the Democrats in the House and Senate pigeonhole their GQP colleagues and make them look at what they are doing and ,make them join a bipartisan movement to Impeach and Convict Him! If this doesn't happen, Civil War is very possible.
The three-star should know operational details are classified. If not classified, it's sensitive enough not to be disclosed on a public app. He's trying to split hairs here. Hopefully, he's not been directed to say what he said.
How. is. this. possible. I can't even.
What’s it gonna take to remove all of these morons from office? Before there isn’t an office anymore?
Seriously scared of being attacked now because this ain’t the first time is it? It’s just the time they got caught.
So cmon. Who’s gonna oust the regime before we are all toast?
Homes needs to lay down the law as it has in the past! Reality Winner got 5 years for "felony leak of national security information" (18 US code $793(e). So, Hegseth in jail for 5 years, for this event and his stint at NATO, seems to be a "winner" to me! And resignations on all those involved in the communication and lied to Congress!
When questioned about the Yemen raid, the Orange Turd said that 'he knew nothing about it'. He's the Commander-in-Chief FFS. So his 'hand-picked' gang of incompetents are just doing what they want when they want? Maybe he thinks that's what delegation means? Responsibility CANNOT be delegated. (Management 101).
Actually I think it’s time to storm the Capital.
Washington DC is over 90% Democratic-voting American Territory. It should have never ever been allowed to be invaded, hijacked, usurped by tRumputinists!! Of course that Washington DC needs to be liberated first so that Democratic parts of USA can survive!! I'm not calling for a "storming" nor anything violent, but Democrats must assertively and relentlessly stand their/our grounds!!
Yes. They need to find their way towards effective action. We really don’t need all the rhetoric any more. We see and know whats going on and the danger there in. Action now please!
Putin is running their show. What is it that he has on tRump??
yep.
Holy smokes it never ends. Previewing the 💩 coming.
Unfortunately we’ll never see all that was on that chat.
Seems obvious they are doing this all the time.. that is the bigger scandal..
They are all vile and disgusting 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
Dynamite, Congressman Himes to great questions.
All it takes is Trump threatening the maga Congresspeople by saying he will make sure they are not re-elected next year! He calls them and threatens them.
The MAGAs have no spines.
It’s about damn time, Democrats come out of that coma!!!!!!
Classified info period
1A rights only apply to the regime !
If only Jim Himes had some cajones and had stood against his republican cronies when it came to censuring Al Green. As a CT resident, that was not what we want from you. Get as mad as your constituents are and DO something.
Why is it Tulsi Gabbard has first amendment rights but all these students who “participated” in protests on college campuses don’t have that right? Such as Rumeysa Ozturk. They are being picked up without warning and stripped of their visa for their opinion. They aren’t causing trouble anymore than this fucking administration is.
Most of the country knows what really happened, thanks to independent journalists like the Meidas Network. There's no fooling anyone. The Trump administration must fire those involved in Signal-Gate So, stop this f*ckery and get to it. And permanently rehire all the fired federal workers to prevent any lag in services to voters - you know, important sh*t like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, FAA, Defense Department, Department of Agriculture, Department of Interior, Department of Education, and IRS. Oh yeah, make Elon get clearance from Congress.
The Frump administration is not going to do anything (see Project 2025). The people and the media have to put pressure on our representatives, including Republicans, to get rid of these losers, impeach Trump for repeatedly breaking the law, and restore some order to our Democracy.
eVIlon, tRumputin, jdvance should not get anything but prison cells to end their lives in!!
Ronald Reagan no fighter for the common folk himself, is rolling over in his grave watching the party he reinvented become such a danger to this country on a global level !!
Are plans for military attacks archived or is it ok to have these plans as only a temporary record?
This administration won’t change. Please.
Do they think they’re going to be re-elected?! Wake up!
So there is a Nazi attack on free speech If the Nazis don’t like what you say then it’s not free speech Complete HYPOCRISY
It’s not about free speech it’s about their protected speech….the Nazi free speech of propaganda
Networks should lose their FCC licenses Judges with differing opinions should be impeached Banning news organizations who don’t go along with the Nazi talking points Going after law firms that don’t favor the regime’s propaganda line Students with green cards who protest with differing opinions should be thrown out of the country because “they are agitators who don’t love our country” Universities should lose federal grant money if they dare speak out against the Nazi regime Take over the Kennedy Center for Continuing Arts to even control the art’s free speech and have only shows that are deemed “appropriate”
But billionaire/oligarchic Nazis protect social media such as X, Meta, and Tik Tok because it’s algorithmic, simply a machine that directs your attention It’s planned Nazi propaganda And it’s not free speech Billionaires are literally rewiring our thinking to solidify their power grab
This is what it looks like living in a dictatorship in the 21st century Fox channel is the only channel available and X will be the social media platform WAKE UP AMERICA
From Jon Stewart March 24 2025 Daily Show https://bit.ly/41IXEvA
even worse. tRumputin-jdvance-eVIlon reign of terror is tasked by terrorist putin of russia to destroy USA and Modern West, no matter what. the regime attacks the networks, news, law firms, students, immigrants, universities, institutions.... whether they talk against the regime or no.
I'm so disappointed with the more central repubs but also with the dems who have made no effort to explain, in private conversations with their colleagues, that tRump is not the power in their elections, the people are the power. States run elections and the voters make the decisions. The voters are rising, faster, louder, more powerful every day. tRump is coming down and they will fall with him.
I think the Dems have made efforts to explain that but one can't reason with the quisling cult of death.
Sad to say I'm not seeing who are the more central repubs yet still in that cult.
This is so calling for all Americans to not pay any Federal taxes!!!! They do not deserve a dime!!!!!!!!!
Pam Bondi voices outright lies and misrepresents everything.she is not AG material. She's a republican DULLARD!
Definitely need further investigation!
Sir, I fear they are getting away with it and moving forward with plans to go to war with China—by setting up operations in the Philippines.
Great commentary. Nailed Hegseth's lack of maturity for the position, playing soldier like a testosterone junkie, not to mention 0 qualifications and then a drinking problem to boot.
The whole group should have to step down and we really need to keep our eyes on that weasel, Vance. The whole thing is so stuptifying, it smells. Then you got Trump being ignorant of this and the soldiers that died? Wtf?
they should be fired now!!! We, the people of America is tired of y’all talking ? Do your damn jobs!!!😡😡😡😡
Well, the DOGE website had transiently posted an invitation to the public to join in a conversation with DOGE using Telegram. Telegram is known for having been a preferred app by white supremacist groups. It went away after 3 or 4 days, but what damage could have been done and what information exchanged in that time?
April 5th 2025 The “Hands Off” demonstrations need 3.5% of all of USA citizens = 12.5 million / 18+ year olds.
Only 1.5 million have registered as of 3/28/25.
Go to “HANDSOFF2025”
to register and make a big difference in this peaceful but purposeful message.
GATHER THEIR PHONES !! See how many times they have put our military in harms way— to say nothing about the USA— THEY ARE ALL INCOMPETENT
She is a Russian asset let's get real here
Great reporting Ben
Posting this in comments on good people’s posts: STOP THE LIES!!! If you are in the NY area march on FOX HQ in Manhattan this Sunday, 3/30: https://www.instagram.com/p/DHm02TVgwC0/?igsh=NWp3YmVlejZ3Y2sy
Whomever put that giant sign in front of Kash Patel deserves a high five today.
I heard that there will be another staged event in the next 2 weeks like they did in PA. Is this true? All to poke blame on opposition and provoke a civil outbreak.
very possible with terrorist putin's of russia magats. assume the worst, so, be ready!!
I think everyone shoud watch JesArmygal on youtube
I think everyone can watch JesArmygal on Substack
Well damn, if the Republicans would have war paint on and need the National Guard to calm them down, then why don't the Democrats?
The gang preparing to invade, steal and pistol whip you while they rape your daughter in front of you includes you on their ops plan text 2 hours prior to their arrival….wow!
And be prosecuted.
And be prosecuted.