The Accidental Signal Breach
How Goldberg Found Himself in a Signal Chat
On March 21, 2025, Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic and a vocal critic of Donald Trump, was inadvertently added to a Signal chat discussing U.S. military strikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen. The chat included top Trump administration officials such as National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. While the timing—just one day before Congress grilled national security officials—raised eyebrows, the incident appears to stem from incompetence rather than conspiracy.
The Fallout
Goldberg’s Spin vs. Officials’ Clarifications
Goldberg quickly spun the story in The Atlantic, emphasizing operational details like weather, sequencing, and targets, while downplaying the fact that the information wasn’t classified. On Benny Johnson’s live feed, Alina Habba dismissed the incident as “amateur hour,” clarifying that the chat contained sensitive but “low-side” operational chatter—not “high-side” classified material. Ratcliffe echoed this sentiment during his Senate testimony, stating, “No secrets were shared.”
Despite the absence of classified information, the timing couldn’t have been worse. On March 23, the National Security Council confirmed the mistake, attributing Goldberg’s inclusion to Waltz’s “fat-finger” error. Democrats seized on the incident, demanding resignations from Waltz and Hegseth, while critics like ACLJ’s Jordan Sekulow tied the breach to past national security leaks.
Signal: The Real Culprit
Lessons for Government Operations
The scandal underscores deeper flaws in communication protocols. Signal, while legal for government use and Intel-approved for “low-side” discussions, is ill-suited for sensitive operations. Its disappearing messages and lack of robust security measures make it a liability. Goldberg’s accidental inclusion highlights the need for stricter controls—this isn’t Clinton’s server scandal, as Benny Johnson joked, but it’s a wake-up call nonetheless.
Sabotage or Slip-Up?
Exploring Theories Behind Goldberg’s Inclusion
Could Goldberg’s inclusion have been deliberate? Some speculate that an intelligence community operative might have slipped him in as sabotage before the congressional hearing. While possible, Waltz’s “fat-finger” excuse seems more plausible. No operations were compromised; the Houthi strikes proceeded as planned, resulting in 53 casualties. The real issue lies in the administration’s reliance on insecure platforms like Signal.
Fixing the System
This isn’t about Goldberg’s gloating or partisan spin—it’s about preventing future breaches. The Trump administration must abandon Signal and adopt secure communication systems that meet the demands of national security. While the incident may have been a gift to Goldberg, it serves as a stark lesson for the administration: sloppy hands can lead to serious consequences.
We are including the entire transcript from the Signal Breach obtained on X from Shawn Farash
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