Today in Politics, Bulletin 115. 4/21/25

… SecDef Pete Hegseth reportedly created a new group Signal chat of 13 people where he discussed sensitive DOD operations including bombing Houthi targets in Yemen. The NYT reported that the group included his brother and personal attorney. His wife was part of Signal Chat Scandal 1. He called the group “Team Huddle.”

… Hegseth’s former spokesman John Ullyot then published an editorial in Politico where he said the DOD has been in “total chaos” since Hegseth took over: “Unfortunately, Hegseth’s team has developed a habit of spreading flat-out, easily debunked falsehoods anonymously about their colleagues on their way out the door. From leaks of sensitive operational plans to mass firings, the dysfunction is now a major distraction for the president—who deserves better from his senior leadership. It’s hard to see Hegseth remaining in his role for much longer.”

More from Ullyot’s editorial:

“Hegseth is now presiding over a strange and baffling purge that will leave him without his two closest advisers of over a decade — Caldwell and Selnick — and without chiefs of staff for him and his deputy. More firings may be coming, according to rumors in the building.

In short, the building is in disarray under Hegseth’s leadership. Last week, a month after leaving my public affairs role, I respectfully declined the secretary’s generous offer for a new position and informed him of my decision to leave the department, wishing him all the best. I value his friendship and am grateful for his giving me the opportunity to serve.

Yet even strong backers of the secretary like me must admit: The last month has been a full-blown meltdown at the Pentagon — and it’s becoming a real problem for the administration. There are very likely more shoes to drop in short order, with even bigger bombshell stories coming this week, key Pentagon reporters have been telling sources privately.”

… Hegseth was ranting and raving about the allegations on the WH lawn today during the Easter egg hunt: “This is what the media does. They take anonymous sources from DISGRUNTLED former employees, and they try to SLASH AND BURN PEOPLE and ruin their reputations. It’s not going to work with me.”

… They aren’t all anonymous sources and it isn’t the media. These are his closest advisors who he hired to work for him at the Pentagon. Even they couldn’t take his recklessness and incompetence any longer.

… Minister of Propaganda Karoline Leavitt: "The President stands strongly behind Pete Hegseth, who is doing a phenomenal job leading the Pentagon. This is what happens when the entire Pentagon is working against you and against monumental change that you are trying to implement.”

… Trump: "It's just fake news. They just bring up stories. It sounds like disgruntled employees. He was put there to get rid of a lot of bad people and that's what he's doing. You don't always have friends when you do that. Pete’s doing a great job. Everybody’s happy with him.”

… NPR reported: “The White House has begun the process of looking for a new secretary of defense, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to speak publicly.”

… But the WH social media account responded to NPR’s report: “WRONG. Fake News!”

… Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN): “Deep State leakers inside the Pentagon are trying to sabotage SecDef. They’re terrified of the bold, America-First reforms President Trump is delivering. The D.C. cartel is in full-blown panic mode. Their desperation says it all: we’re winning—and history will prove us right.”

… Don Jr says Ullyot is a traitor and will be excommunicated from MAGA: “This guy is not America First. I’ve been hearing for years that he works his ass off to subvert my father’s agenda. That ends today. He’s officially exiled from our movement.”

… Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK): “I will lead the breach. I will lay down cover fire. I will take the high ground. I’ll expose myself to enemy fire to communicate. We must bring back integrity, focus, and put the Warfighter first inside DOD. I stand with Pete Hegseth.”

… Mullin never served in the military. He is a plumber.

… Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), who is a former Air Force General, was the only Republican to speak out today. To Politico: “I had concerns from the get-go because Pete Hegseth didn’t have a lot of experience. I like him on Fox. But does he have the experience to lead one of the largest organizations in the world? That’s a concern. If it’s true that he had another Signal chat with his family, about the missions against the Houthis, it’s totally unacceptable.”

… Bacon: “I’m not in the WH, and I’m not going to tell the WH how to manage this, but I find it unacceptable, and I wouldn’t tolerate it if I was in charge. Russia and China put up thousands of people to monitor all these phone calls at the very top, and the No. 1 target besides the president would be the Sec of Defense. Russia and China are all over his phone, and for him to be putting secret stuff on his phone is not right. He’s acting like he’s above the law - and that shows an amateur person.”

… Pope Francis died one day after his meeting with JD Vance at the Vatican. The Vatican described the meeting as “brief” where Vance said to the Pope: “I know you have not been feeling great but it's good to see you in better health.” Vance’s motorcade left the Vatican after just 17 minutes.

… Conspiracies swirl on whether Vance had something to do with the Pope’s death. Pope Francis has never been popular with MAGA, who dislike his statements on immigration along with other policies and reforms he has made to the church. Right-wing talk show host Ann Coulter: “Good work, JD.”

… Rep. Marge Greene (R-GA): “Today there were major shifts in global leaderships. Evil is being defeated by the hand of God.”

… Joe who writes ‘Joe’s Junk Food’ column on Substack: “I don't think JD Vance killed the Pope, I think meeting JD Vance probably drained the Pope's will to live. It's subtly different.”

… Trump posted that he is looking forward to the funeral: “Melania and I will be going to the funeral of Pope Francis, in Rome. We look forward to being there!”

… DHS Secretary Kristi Noem had her purse stolen while dining at a DC restaurant last night. CNN reported that the Secret Service, which provides security for Noem, reviewed security camera footage at the restaurant and saw an unknown white male wearing a medical mask steal her bag and leave. The bag contained Noem’s driver’s license, medication, apartment keys, passport, DHS access badge, makeup bag, blank checks, and $3,000 in cash.”

… Scripps News: “A DHS spokesperson confirms to Scripps that Sec Noem had a large amount of cash on her that was stolen because her entire family was in town and she was using the withdrawal to treat her family to dinner, activities, and Easter gifts.”

… Most people have focused on the cash she had. I’m more interested in what the “medication” was.

… AZPM reported that 19-year-old US citizen Jose Hermosillo was arrested as he was walking by a Border Patrol office in Tucson, AZ. He was not carrying any ID on him at the time to prove he was a citizen. A family member drove 70 miles to the detention center to explain who he was, but they refused to release him. A family member later provided his birth certificate and social security card, but Hermosillo remained in ICE custody for 10 days until a judge dismissed the case.

… Hermosillo’s girlfriend’s aunt, who he was visiting at the time: “He did say he was a U.S. citizen, but they didn't believe him. I think they would have kept him. I think they would have if they would have not got that information yesterday in the court and gave that to ICE and the Border Patrol. He probably would have been deported already to Mexico.”

We are back to our regularly scheduled programming after my trip to Connecticut on Friday and then my stories on Sunday about the top signs at the protests this weekend and the 55 campaign promises that Trump has broken already. Thank you again to the paid subscribers for supporting my work and the free subscribers to read and share it.

… China’s Commerce Ministry is warning countries that if they make a trade deal with the US that includes provisions to hurt them, it "will take countermeasures in a resolute and reciprocal manner" against those countries. Bloomberg reported previously that the US is pressuring countries during negotiations to reduce their trade with China if they want a deal with the US, essentially coercing them into joining