President Donald Trump denied any knowledge of an incident in which senior officials in his administration, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Vice President JD Vance, reportedly discussed a highly sensitive operation aimed at targeting Houthi positions in Yemen in a group chat that inadvertently included Jeffrey Goldberg, the Editor-in-Chief of The Atlantic.
When asked about the security breach, the president attacked the publication as “going out of business.”
The story broke as Trump held his third known cabinet meeting amid legal challenges over immigration, looming new tariffs, and rising tensions over the work of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Elon Musk was in attendance what was described beforehand as a “follow-up on the last DOGE meeting” in early March, in which the president limited the billionaire tycoon’s authority amid a reported backlash against cuts to federal agencies.
Elsewhere, Attorney General Pam Bondi once again demanded that Texas congresswoman Jasmine Crockett apologize for comments criticizing Elon Musk, given the recent attacks against Tesla vehicles and dealerships.
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Key Points
- Staggering security breach after journalist included in Trump admin war planning group chat
- Trump denies knowledge of airstrikes group chat that inadvertently included journalist
- Attorney general accuses Jasmine Crockett of fomenting 'insurrection' against Tesla
- Cabinet meeting wraps up with praise for Musk from Trump
Full story: Staggering security breach after journalist is included in Trump admin group chat outlining plans to bomb Houthis in Yemen
Monday 24 March 2025 21:30
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Oliver O'Connell
The Trump administration has been accused of a stunning breach of security after the editor of The Atlantic was included in a group chat with top officials and cabinet secretaries outlining plans to strike the Houthis in Yemen.
Gustaf Kilander reports from Washington, D.C.
SCOTUS declines Trump ally’s challenge to landmark press freedoms
03:20
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Oliver O'Connell
The Supreme Court will not take up a case from a billionaire real estate developer who called on the court to overturn a landmark ruling that has protected journalists from libel lawsuits for decades.
Donald Trump-supporting Republican megadonor Steve Wynn urged the court to revisit the precedent established by 1964’s New York Times v Sullivan, which determined that public figures must prove “actual malice” from a news organization’s reporting to successfully sue them for defamation.
Alex Woodward has the story.
Attorney general accuses Jasmine Crockett of fomenting 'insurrection' against Tesla
02:23
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Josh Marcus
Attorney General Pam Bondi called on Texas congresswoman Jasmine Crockett to apologize for recent comments calling for Elon Musk to be “taken down,” claiming the comments are driving violence and “insurrection.”
“She needs to unequivocally denounce the violence,” Bondi said during an interview Monday night on Fox News’s Hannity. “She must apologize immediately, not only to all Texans, but to our country, to the American shareholders of Tesla, because she is promoting violence.”
The comments came as Teslas and facilities tied to the EV brand have faced violence and threats, including in Texas.
Last week, Crockett, a Democrat, said she hoped to see Musk “taken down,” though said moments later she meant that figuratively and asserted that “everything that I am promoting is non-violent.”
More details in our full story.
Bondi warns Crockett to watch what she says about Elon Musk
02:20
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Oliver O'Connell
Attorney General Pam Bondi urged Rep. Jasmine Crockett to “tread very carefully” after the Texas Democrat railed against Elon Musk and his electric vehicle company, Tesla.
The nation’s top prosecutor issued the threat during an appearance on Fox News Sunday Morning Futures, just days after Crockett spoke at a live-streamed Tesla Takedown rally.
James Liddell reports.
CNN host fumes over ‘Daily Show’ audience cheering vandalism of ‘innocent’ Teslas
01:20
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Oliver O'Connell
CNN host Michael Smerconish railed against Daily Show audience members approvingly applauding the recent vandalism of Teslas, claiming the “innocent car” had become a symbol of “misplaced hate” against Elon Musk.
On Saturday’s broadcast of his eponymous CNN program, Smerconish also said that the cheering reminded him of how some health insurance critics responded to the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Justin Baragona reports.
Greenland PM furious over Usha Vance visit
00:20
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Oliver O'Connell
Greenland has accused the Trump administration of being “highly aggressive” by sending a delegation of senior officials to the territory this week.
President Donald Trump’s national security adviser Mike Waltz is visiting Greenland early this week with the U.S. energy secretary Chris Wright, according to reports, in addition to a separate trip by Second Lady Usha Vance on Thursday.
The trips come after Trump’s repeated threats to annex the autonomous territory.
Rhian Lubin has the story.
Trump fumes over George Clooney’s 60 Minutes interview
Monday 24 March 2025 23:20
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Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump fumed over George Clooney’s 60 Minutes interview and claimed that the “failed political pundit” dumped former President Joe Biden “like a dog.”
Clooney, a longtime Democratic Party member and fundraiser, appeared on the CBS program on Sunday to promote his Broadway debut in Good Night and Good Luck, where he stars as pioneering journalist Edward R. Murrow.
James Liddell reports.
Trump’s cabinet meetings show just how powerful Elon Musk has become
Monday 24 March 2025 22:50
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Oliver O'Connell
Richard Hall writes:
It’s not unusual for Donald Trump’s meetings to conclude with spontaneous bursts of applause from his underlings. It is unusual for that applause to be directed at anyone but Trump himself.
In front of the gathered press after a cabinet meeting on Monday, it was Elon Musk on the receiving end of the sycophancy. It came after a lengthy tribute from Trump himself, who singled out the “senior advisor” and DOGE figurehead for praise.
Read on...
Former defense secretary says somebody ‘needs to get fired’ over Trump admin’s shocking war plans leak to journalist
Monday 24 March 2025 22:20
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Oliver O'Connell
Leon Panetta, who served as both the secretary of defense and director of the CIA under Barack Obama, said on Monday that Trump administration officials “need to be fired” following revelations that The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief was inadvertently added to a group chat detailing recent airstrikes in Yemen.
Justin Baragona reports.
Unflattering Trump portrait to be taken down
Monday 24 March 2025 21:50
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Oliver O'Connell
DENVER (AP) — Donald Trump portrait to be taken down at Colorado Capitol after president claimed it was "distorted." pic.twitter.com/WXdrUQVyFz
— NewsWire (@NewsWire_US) March 24, 2025
Here’s the full story:
Meeks calls for public hearing on Signal security breach
Monday 24 March 2025 21:34
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Oliver O'Connell
Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has called on Chairman Brian Mast to hold a public committee hearing on the bombshell reporting of senior Trump administration officials communicating U.S. military operations in Yemen in a Signal messaging app group chat, in which they unknowingly included a journalist from The Atlantic.
“I am immediately calling on Chairman Mast to hold a hearing on what might be the most astonishing breach of our national security in recent history, where top leadership from DOD, State, Treasury, the CIA and even the VP himself used a commercial messaging app - Signal - to communicate U.S. war plans, all the while unaware that a journalist was included in the group chat.
“Republicans have regularly contrived security ‘scandals’ to attack their political opponents with years of nakedly partisan hearings and investigations. This administration proves yet again that hypocrisy and cynical politics aren’t the only defining characteristics of today’s GOP; rank incompetence is front and center.”
Ohio State to visit White House
Monday 24 March 2025 21:10
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Oliver O'Connell
Ohio State coach Ryan Day confirmed Monday that the Buckeyes national championship football team will visit the White House on April 14.
The invite was first reported by CBS News on Friday. Ohio State's visit comes two days after it wraps up spring football practices.
“It’s an honor to be invited,” Day said.
Read on...
Hillary Clinton reacts to The Atlantic's story
Monday 24 March 2025 21:05
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Oliver O'Connell
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who was hounded by Republicans over exaggerated concerns regarding her treatment of government information, has reacted to news of the Signal security breach.
You have got to be kidding me.https://t.co/IhhvFvw6DG pic.twitter.com/bnNG4dGSpI
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) March 24, 2025
'An episode of Veep'
Monday 24 March 2025 21:00
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Oliver O'Connell
Democratic senator for New Jersey Andy Kim likened the Signal debacle to an episode of the comedy Veep and demanded that people lose their jobs over the incident.
“Really dumb and epically irresponsible.”
It would be an episode of Veep if it wasn’t so dangerous and just plain dumb. Really dumb and epically irresponsible. People need to lose their jobs over this. Preferably Hegseth. pic.twitter.com/8ncpsp3rjE
— Andy Kim (@AndyKimNJ) March 24, 2025
Watch: Raskin calls out GOP for double standards on security breach
Monday 24 March 2025 20:55
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Oliver O'Connell
Raskin: "It'll be child's play to go back and find all the Republicans who were demanding congressional investigations and that Hillary Clinton apologize and leave the campaign and so on." pic.twitter.com/BhSlXFJNwg
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 24, 2025
Trump will elevate CDC's acting director to nominee
Monday 24 March 2025 20:50
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AP
President Donald Trump has nominated Dr. Susan Monarez, the CDC’s acting director, to the job, a White House official confirmed on Monday.
Trump abruptly withdrew the nomination of his first pick earlier this month.
Monarez has been serving as the CDC’s acting director since January. She came from an outside federal government agency, the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health.
The White House withdrew the nomination of David Weldon, a former Florida congressman, to lead the CDC. Weldon told the media his nomination was withdrawn because “there were not enough votes to get me confirmed.”
Weldon was closely aligned with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. health secretary who for years has been one of the nation’s leading anti-vaccine activists.
The president confirmed his decision to nominate Monarez in a post on Truth Social:
I am proud to announce that Dr. Susan Monarez is my Nominee to serve as the next Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dr. Monarez brings decades of experience championing Innovation, Transparency, and strong Public Health Systems. She has a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin, and PostDoctoral training in Microbiology and Immunology at Stanford University School of Medicine.
As an incredible mother and dedicated public servant, Dr. Monarez understands the importance of protecting our children, our communities, and our future. Americans have lost confidence in the CDC due to political bias and disastrous mismanagement. Dr. Monarez will work closely with our GREAT Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert Kennedy Jr. Together, they will prioritize Accountability, High Standards, and Disease Prevention to finally address the Chronic Disease Epidemic and, MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN!
USPS Postmaster steps down
Monday 24 March 2025 20:47
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Oliver O'Connell
Breaking: @USPS Postmaster Louis DeJoy stepping down immediately. His last day is today
— David Shepardson (@davidshepardson) March 24, 2025
'Breathtaking incompetence'
Monday 24 March 2025 20:45
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Oliver O'Connell
Democrat Rep Gerry Connolly calls the Signal security breach debacle “breathtaking incompetence” and demands action from Speaker Mike Johnson.
Breathtaking incompetence.
— Rep. Gerry Connolly (@GerryConnolly) March 24, 2025
What else may have been exposed? Nuclear codes? Detailed war plans with other adversaries?
If this doesn’t demand congressional action, @SpeakerJohnson, I don’t know what does. https://t.co/4ZotBPL7tO
Speaker Johnson says administration to make sure security breach won't happen again
Monday 24 March 2025 20:40
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Oliver O'Connell
Speaker Mike Johnson responds to The Atlantic story about Yemen war plans being inadvertently shared with the magazine’s editor on messaging app, Signal.
“They're going to track that down and make sure that it doesn't happen again... Clearly, the administration has acknowledged it was a mistake and they'll tighten up and make sure it doesn't happen again.”
Speaker Mike Johnson responds to Atlantic story about Yemen war plans being inadvertently shared with a reporter on signal:
— Melanie Zanona (@MZanona) March 24, 2025
"They're going to track that down and make sure that it doesn't happen again.. Clearly, the administration has acknowledged it was a mistake and they'll…
White House says Trump has 'utmost confidence' in national security team after shocking security breach
Monday 24 March 2025 20:36
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Oliver O'Connell
President Donald Trump has the “utmost confidence” in his national security team, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
“As President Trump said, the attacks on the Houthis have been highly successful and effective. President Trump continues to have the utmost confidence in his national security team, including National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.”
WH press secretary Karoline Leavitt:
— Shelby Talcott (@ShelbyTalcott) March 24, 2025
“As President Trump said, the attacks on the Houthis have been highly successful and effective. President Trump continues to have the utmost confidence in his national security team, including National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.”
Appeals court judges skeptical of Trump arguments to deport Venezuelans
Monday 24 March 2025 20:30
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Oliver O'Connell
A three-judge panel of federal appeals court judges appeared skeptical that Donald Trump’s administration could summarily deport immigrants inside the United States under the president’s use of the Alien Enemies Act.
During a hearing in Washington, D.C. Monday, deputy assistant attorney general Drew Ensign called a federal judge’s ruling that temporarily blocks those deportations an “utterly unprecedented” “intrusion” of his authority.
“Well, it’s an unprecedented action, as well,” replied Judge Patricia Millett, who was appointed by Barack Obama. “We are in unprecedented territory.”
Alex Woodward reports.
Schumer calls for investigation into report of Trump officials’ war plan group chat
Monday 24 March 2025 20:20
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Oliver O'Connell
Senator Chuck Schumer has called for an investigation into the report of Trump administration officials discussing war plans in a group chat that inadvertently included the editor of The Atlantic.
“This is one of the most stunning breaches of military intelligence I have read about in a very, very long time,” Schumer, the Senate Democratic Leader, said in a floor speech Monday afternoon.
He urged Republicans, who hold the majority in the Senate, to collaborate with him in initiating a congressional investigation into the security breach.
Tesla showroom targeted with ‘incendiary devices’
Monday 24 March 2025 20:10
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Oliver O'Connell
The FBI and a bomb squad has responded to a Tesla showroom in Austin, Texas after “incendiary” devices were placed in the building.
Austin police first responded to the showroom Monday morning around 8 a.m. when they received a report of a “found/abandoned hazardous” item.
Katie Hawkinson has the details.
Democrats want to punish Trump in the 2026 midterms, but which Senate seats are most likely to flip?
Monday 24 March 2025 19:50
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Oliver O'Connell
Eric Garcia takes a look at the potential for Democrats to retake the upper chamber of Congress.
Trump says US officials’ Greenland visit isn’t provocation, but ‘friendliness’
Monday 24 March 2025 19:40
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AP
During a meeting of his Cabinet on Monday, President Donald Trump repeated his assertions the U.S. could come to control Greenland, saying, “I think Greenland’s going to be something that maybe is in our future.”
He called U.S. control of the island that is part of the Kingdom of Denmark important for national security.
Trump also suggested that Secretary of State Marco Rubio could be going soon to Greenland, and that people there were asking U.S. officials to go, including “some officials.”
Lawmakers react to group chat security breach
Monday 24 March 2025 19:30
,
Oliver O'Connell
“If true, this story represents one of the most egregious failures of operational security and common sense I have ever seen,” said Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, in a statement. He said American lives are “on the line. The carelessness shown by President Trump’s cabinet is stunning and dangerous. I will be seeking answers from the Administration immediately.”
Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said in a statement he was “horrified” by the reports. Himes said if a lower-ranking official “did what is described here, they would likely lose their clearance and be subject to criminal investigation. The American people deserve answers,” which he said he planned to get at Wednesday’s previously scheduled committee hearing.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, an Iraq War veteran, said on social media that Pete Hegseth, “the most unqualified Secretary of Defense in history, is demonstrating his incompetence by literally leaking classified war plans in the group chat.”Duckworth said, “Hegseth and Trump are making our country less safe.”
Trump taps his former defense attorney, Alina Habba, to be New Jersey's top federal prosecutor
Monday 24 March 2025 19:30
,
AP
President Donald Trump on Monday named his one-time defense attorney and current White House counselor Alina Habba to be the top federal prosecutor in New Jersey.
Habba, who turns 41 Tuesday, takes over the interim post from John Giordano, whom the president said he's naming to be the U.S. ambassador for the southwestern African country of Namibia.
Read on...
Trump denies knowledge of airstrikes group chat that inadvertently included journalist
Monday 24 March 2025 19:07
,
Oliver O'Connell
Senior officials in the Trump administration, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Vice President JD Vance, reportedly engaged in discussions regarding a highly sensitive operation aimed at targeting Houthi positions in Yemen in a group chat that inadvertently included Jeffrey Goldberg, the Editor-in-Chief of The Atlantic, as he revealed in an article today.
While a Cabinet meeting was underway at the White House and Hegseth headed off on a trip to U.S. bases in the Pacific, Goldberg published an article describing how he was added to the group chat on the encrypted messaging application Signal earlier this month by an account identified as that of Mike Waltz, the National Security Adviser to the White House.
Subsequently, Goldberg indicated that an account named "Pete Hegseth" outlined a strategic plan for the airstrikes in Yemen, which included specific information concerning the weapons packages, targeted sites, and the timing for the impending attacks, shortly before their execution.
Asked about the incident — an egregious lapse in security — President Donald Trump said: “I don't know anything about it. I'm not a big fan of The Atlantic. To me, it's a magazine that's going out of business. But I know nothing about it.”
The National Security Council told CBS News that the messages appeared to be “authentic.”
“At this time, the message thread that was reported appears to be authentic, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain,” a National Security Council spokesman said. “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 our service members or our national security.”
Trump on his cabinet members using Signal to text war plans to a reporter: "I don't know anything about it. I'm not a big fan of The Atlantic. To be it's a magazine that's going out of business. But I know nothing about it. You're saying that they had what?" pic.twitter.com/cBl0g40tsm
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 24, 2025
The Columbia River has benefited both the U.S. and Canada with little worry for decades. Then Trump took office
Monday 24 March 2025 18:50
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Oliver O'Connell
A river that runs between the U.S. and Canada has now run itself right into the middle of the fight between the two allies.
President Donald Trump’s administration has now stopped negotiations to re-up a decades-old U.S.-Canada treaty that controls the flow of the Columbia River between British Columbia after claiming it could play a role in solving California water shortages.
Katie Hawkinson has the story.
Trump says some countries might get 'breaks' on reciprocal tariffs
Monday 24 March 2025 18:47
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Oliver O'Connell
President Donald Trump was asked whether some countries might get a break on the reciprocal tariffs coming on April 2 or even some sectors.
Trump replied: “Well, I may give a lot of countries breaks, but it's reciprocal, but we might be even nicer than that. You know, we've been very nice to a lot of countries for a long time, but I call it Liberation Day. April 2 is Liberation Day, but today, as you know, we did something with respect to Venezuela. You heard about that, and that will be quite important. We'll be announcing some additional tariffs over the next few days, having to do with automobiles, cars and having also to do a little bit with lumber down the road, lumber and chips.”
He continued: “April 2 is Liberation Day, but today, as you know, we did something with respect to Venezuela. You heard about that, and that will be quite important. We'll be announcing some additional tariffs over the next few days, having to do with automobiles, cars and having also to do a little bit with lumber down the road, lumber and chips are going to get all those chip companies coming back. They're already coming back without even doing it. So it's it's been very good, but we'll be announcing some others, but for the most part, April 2 will be a big day, that'll be reciprocal day, and we'll be bringing some of the money back that's been taken from us.”
Watch the moment here:
Trump on tariffs: "I may give a lot of countries breaks. It's reciprocal, but we might be even nicer than that." pic.twitter.com/PL28xriS0P
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 24, 2025
Watch: Trump announces Hyundai to build new steel plant in Louisiana
Monday 24 March 2025 18:44
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Oliver O'Connell
@POTUS announces Hyundai will build a new $5.8 billion steel plant in Louisiana — creating nearly 1,500 new jobs — as part of the company's $20+ billion U.S. investment. pic.twitter.com/6ITnuLkGby
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 24, 2025
Detainee files statement about El Salvador deportation flights
Monday 24 March 2025 18:40
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Alex Woodward
While this appeals court hearing is underway, a woman who was on the El Salvador flights filed a statement in the case.
Here’s an excerpt:
17. While on the plane the government officials were asking the men to sign a document and they didn’t want to. The government officials were pushing them to sign the documents and threatening them. I heard them discussing the documents and they were about the men admitting they were members of TdA.
18. After we landed but were still on the plane a woman opened the shade. An officer rushed to shut the shade and pushed her down by her shoulders to try and stop her from looking out. The person that pushed her down had HOU-02 on his sleeve.
19. I saw out the window for a minute and I saw men in military uniforms and another plane. I saw men being led off the plane. Since I’ve been back in the U.S. I have seen news coverage and the plane I saw looks like the one I’ve seen on TV with migrants from the U.S. being delivered to El Salvador.
20. All the men got off the plane. The remaining women asked what happens to us? I was told that the President of El Salvador would not accept women. I was also told that we were going back to detention in the U.S.
21. We left in the middle of the night and landed in the early morning in Laredo. The 8 women who were on the plane were all returned back to the U.S.
Deportations appeals hearing continues in D.C.
Monday 24 March 2025 18:37
,
Alex Woodward
Trump-appointed judge Justin Walker is asking Ensign how a detained immigrant, marked for removal under the Alien Enemies Act, could file a petition for their removal from a court to say they are not members of Tren de Aragua.
“If they bring in a habeas petition, they can say to a federal district judge, ‘I am not Tren de Aragua,’ and a federal district judge would review that to some degree … If it’s true they can do that, how would that work?”
Ensign claims that is already available to people in detention.
Judge Millett steps in to note that people on the planes didn’t have that opportunity.
“The proclamation was signed, and people were put on planes immediately without knowing the basis, let alone an opportunity to file a suit,” she said. “Am I wrong about anything I just said? … There were planeloads of people. There were no procedures in place to notify people. Nazis got better treatment under the Alien Enemies Act … and they had a hearing first before people were removed. There’s no regulations, and nothing was adopted by the agencies and officials … They weren’t told where they were going … They had no opportunity to file habeus or any type of petition … What’s factually wrong about what I said?”
“Well, your honor, we certainly dispute the Nazi analogy,” Ensign replied.
Ensign says he does not have a timeline for when the AEA was invoked and when people were put on planes, despite arguing that the people on those planes could have filed a habeas petition challenging their