Bad Things Happen on Signal

There is a lot to be outraged about in the big story of the week (so far). Top Cabinet members accidentally looped in The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg on a Signal chat about upcoming military strikes in Yemen. First and most importantly, there are the obvious national security implications, which Republicans are trying hard to downplay and looking like idiots as they do it.

Then there’s the hypocrisy. Nearly everyone in the Signal chat has had harsh words for Hillary Clinton regarding her alleged mishandling of classified communications. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who was included in the chat, even had this to say less than two weeks ago.

There’s also the arrogance. Last week, after a meeting at the Pentagon between another Signal chatter, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Elon Musk, Hegseth was asked by a New York Times reporter what the two discussed. Hegseth fired back, “Why would I tell you?” and walked away. I guess he saves the really juicy details for Goldberg.

Then there’s the incompetence. These leaders entrusted with our secrets and security handled actual war plans—real life-and-death stuff—like they were drinking beers and texting their friends about a football game from some bar. Totally unserious. But that’s no surprise when you look at who nominated them. America is less safe and less secure because of who we elected President. This disaster is just the latest evidence.

At a Senate hearing on the matter today, Hegseth seemed to get the lion’s share of blame, and since then, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz took “full responsibility” (which doesn’t translate to resigning anymore, just “moving forward”). But in all fairness, there’s plenty of blame to go around. Our Vice President and Secretary of State were engaged in the same frat boy behavior with Waltz, Hegseth, and Gabbard on an open party line. It’s like a comedy sketch that would be almost funny if our national security weren’t at stake. Hey allies of America, you’d be out of your minds to share intelligence with America right now, with these goons running things.

That brings us, finally, to the breaking of the global social contract. The contempt expressed for Europe in the Signal chat was particularly galling. I’m not suggesting top leaders can’t have unconventional opinions about foreign relations and the liberty to express them. But the cavalier manner in which they spoke about these sensitive matters—and the platform on which they did so—demonstrates an appalling lack of respect for our allies.

For more on how this is happening, please read Trump’s Betrayal of America’s Social Contract and Global Standing. This administration wants to cut us off from each other and the rest of the world, and that’s when bad things happen. We will pay a steep price for it.

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ALL ROADS LEAD TO RUSSIA. Guess who else was included in the Signal chat? Donald Trump’s Ukraine and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, who just happened to be in Moscow meeting with Vladimir Putin at the time. Perfect! You know Witkoff. He’s the guy who actually said, “I don’t regard Putin as a bad guy.” Meanwhile, Trump has agreed to start lifting sanctions on Russia even without getting the full original ceasefire with Ukraine that the U.S. proposed. Those Putin prayers must really work.

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN MIAMI? A Ukrainian national detained at the Krome Detention Center in Miami, Florida, recently died while in custody, and he’s not the only one. Families of prisoners there, which include hundreds of ICE detainees, have expressed concern over the living conditions, and a viral video allegedly shot inside the facility has raised even more questions about how detained migrants, who’ve been convicted of no crimes, are being treated.

None of it is shocking. We know that some of the migrants who were sent to El Salvador last week weren’t even Venezuelans, much less Venezuelan gang members. Trump is even touting prison in El Salvador for American citizens committing acts of vandalism against Tesla and threatening to enter homes without a warrant. The administration also plans to inspect immigrants’ social media profiles and IRS data, all with fewer watchdogs to make sure everything is on the up and up.

And then there’s this: A 21-year-old student protester who’s been in the U.S. since she was 7 years old and is a legal permanent resident is being targeted by Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for deportation because she participated in protests against Israel. This is so fucking wrong. This is not who we are. This is not America.

FREE SPEECH, MY A$$. Team Trump tries to make themselves out to be the saviors of free speech. Don’t believe it. In just the past week, we saw this administration manipulate Columbia University to change its disciplinary procedures, threaten the University of Pennsylvania over its transgender policies, suggest that CNN and MSNBC are “gonna be turned off,” and sign an executive order targeting law firm Jenner and Block for previously employing former Special Counsel Mueller prosecutor Andrew Weissman. Nothing like fighting cancel culture with a little fascism.

Wait, there’s more. Elon Musk says he’s going to sue Jamaal Bowman for calling him a 'Nazi' on CNN (hey, if the shoe fits, amirite?), while suspending X accounts for opposition leaders in Turkey amid civil unrest there. Then Attorney General Pam Bondi warned Rep. Jasmine Crockett to “tread very carefully” in what she says about Musk and Tesla. I have a message for Bondi: fuck off. This is America. We have free speech here. We are free to criticize Elon Musk or anyone we wish. And for the Attorney General of the United States to say this is utterly un-American. Bondi should stay off Fox News and do her damn job, and maybe re-read the First Amendment while she’s at it.

ONE MORE THING. Did you hear this one? Rep. Michelle Fischbach, a Republican from Minnesota, charged constituents $10 to attend her recent town hall, and none of them was allowed to speak to her directly. Such cowardly bullshit. When I was a Congressman, I held town halls open to everyone, and anyone and everyone could ask me a question and respectfully give me a piece of their mind. And I sure as hell didn’t charge them for that access. This is so wrong. And cowardly.

So what can you do? Here are some ideas…

1. Join the growing #NOKINGS community! Let’s build a community right now of Americans who rally around and identify with that basic truth: we don’t have kings in America. We’re figuring out in real time where we go from here. I’ve changed all my profile pictures to #NOKINGS, and you can too. Grab the #NOKINGS graphic below and go to www.oneflaginitiative.org for instructions on how to change your profile pics.

2. Post this on your social media! We are building the fiery, grassroots resistance to King Donald right here at the Social Contract. We are open to everyone and welcome diverse viewpoints. Please let your network know we’re here!

3. This is a big one! Go to www.handsoff2025.com to look for a protest happening near you on Saturday, April 5.

4. Can’t wait that long? Here’s what’s happening this week, and here are other good suggestions for fighting back that you can do anytime.

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