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HEGSETH'S SIGNALGATE became a shorthand for ineptitude at the highest reaches of Trump administration. Foreign allies said that they felt justified in their earlier reluctance to share their secrets with the U.S., as Trump’s long history of misusing classified information. (Atl.)

Now the Pentagon’s top watchdog has concluded that the information Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared in the chat could have put the mission, U.S. personnel, & national security at risk had it fallen into the wrong hands. (Atl.)

Senator Mark Kelly, an Ariz. Dem. who sits on the Armed Services Committee, said that the report found Hegseth was in violation of Pentagon regulations. The report also found that the information Hegseth shared was classified at the time he received it. (Atl.)

The Signalgate became comedy gold for late-night hosts. Perhaps the fiasco resonated so widely because it was simultaneously so relatable and so reckless. SOURCE: The Atlantic by Shane Harris, Nancy A. Youssef, Missy Ryan, Vivian Salama, & Sarah Fitzpatrick

In May, Trump decided to stop bombing Houthi targets and declared victory, even though the group retained significant fighting power and had vowed to keep attacking Israel, which the strikes were originally intended to prevent.(Atl.)

Senior aides say that Hegseth has spent more time focused on personnel issues and physical-fitness standards than running the world’s most advanced military. A number of Democrats and at least one Republican have called for him to resign. (Atl.)

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See for yourself. We won’t stop fighting until we end this cover-up and deliver justice for the survivors.

#HegsethResign

Although the mission ultimately was not jeopardized, Hegseth violated his department’s own policies when he used Signal, a commercial messaging app that is not approved for sharing classified information. (Atl.)

Two congressional GOP's led committees said they will probe a The Washington Post report on HEGSETH'S VERBAL ORDER TO LEAVE NO SURVIVORS IN A SEPT. MILITARY STRIKE ON AN ALLEGED DRUG BOAT, LEADING TO A SECOND ATTACK THAT KILLED TWO PEOPLE WHO SURVIVED THE INITIAL ASSAULT.(Atl.)

Democratic voters are working hard to stop fascism. It would be nice if the leaders of the party joined them.

THE UNPRECEDENTED SECURITY BREACH REVEALED THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S CASUAL APPROACH TO HANDLING SOME OF THE COUNTRY'S MOST SENSITIVE INFORMATION. (Atl.)

The top national-security leaders shared information in a Signal chat about U.S. strikes in Yemen, &, unaware, included The Atlantic’s editor in chief, Jeffrey Goldberg. Officials belittled the danger of the breach & upheld that the information wasn’t classified. (Atl.)

Hegseth shared information about the times that pilots would attack their targets, the sort of info available only on secure platforms. If Houthi had learned those details in advance, they might have been able to shoot down U.S. planes or better defend their positions. (Atl.)

Battlefield information like what Hegseth shared is routinely classified because of the risk it would pose to U.S. forces were it exposed. U.S. Central Command, responsible for military operations in the Middle East, had classified the data about the air strike as secret. (Atl.)

CURRENT & FORMER GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS HAVE TOLD THAT IF LOWER-LEVEL EMPLOYEES SHARED SUCH SENSITIVE INFORMATION ON A COMMERCIAL PLATFORM, THEY WOULD CERTAINLY BE FIRED AND POSSIBLY BE PROSECUTED. (Atl.)

The inspector general’s conclusions seem likely to create an impression among the military rank and file that there are two sets of rules: one for the Defense Department’s presidentially appointed leadership, and one for everyone else. (Atl.)

Hegseth has been facing criticism since he assumed office. Critics—including people within the Trump administration—have complained about his chaotic management, which has been marred by infighting among senior aides. (Atl.)

SOME LEGAL EXPERTS HAVE SAID THAT SUCH AN ORDER COULD BE A WAR CRIME. During a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Hegseth said that he “did not personally see survivors” clinging to the boat after a first strike, & he has denied knowing that a second strike could have hit them. (Atl.)

Hegseth, a former National Guard soldier & Fox News host, has faced other questions about his professional & personal judgment since his nomination. During his confirmation process, he defended himself against allegations of heavy drinking & sexual assault, which he denied.(Atl.)

Since taking office, scrutiny has intensified as Hegseth has summarily fired scores of senior military officers without cause, focused on personnel issues such as service members’ weight and hair, and departed from precedent by launching sharp partisan attacks.(Atl.)

The Signalgate became comedy gold for late-night hosts. Perhaps the fiasco resonated so widely because it was simultaneously so relatable and so reckless. SOURCE: The Atlantic by Shane Harris, Nancy A. Youssef, Missy Ryan, Vivian Salama, & Sarah Fitzpatrick

In May, Trump decided to stop bombing Houthi targets and declared victory, even though the group retained significant fighting power and had vowed to keep attacking Israel, which the strikes were originally intended to prevent.(Atl.)

Since taking office, scrutiny has intensified as Hegseth has summarily fired scores of senior military officers without cause, focused on personnel issues such as service members’ weight and hair, and departed from precedent by launching sharp partisan attacks.(Atl.)

Hegseth, a former National Guard soldier & Fox News host, has faced other questions about his professional & personal judgment since his nomination. During his confirmation process, he defended himself against allegations of heavy drinking & sexual assault, which he denied.(Atl.)

SOME LEGAL EXPERTS HAVE SAID THAT SUCH AN ORDER COULD BE A WAR CRIME. During a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Hegseth said that he “did not personally see survivors” clinging to the boat after a first strike, & he has denied knowing that a second strike could have hit them. (Atl.)

Two congressional GOP's led committees said they will probe a The Washington Post report on HEGSETH'S VERBAL ORDER TO LEAVE NO SURVIVORS IN A SEPT. MILITARY STRIKE ON AN ALLEGED DRUG BOAT, LEADING TO A SECOND ATTACK THAT KILLED TWO PEOPLE WHO SURVIVED THE INITIAL ASSAULT.(Atl.)

Senior aides say that Hegseth has spent more time focused on personnel issues and physical-fitness standards than running the world’s most advanced military. A number of Democrats and at least one Republican have called for him to resign. (Atl.)