Unveiling a National Security Scandal: The Signal Chat Leak
Hosted by Jess Bidgood, this episode features insights from esteemed guests Helene Cooper, Zolan Kanno-Youngs, and David E. Sanger. This engaging discussion is produced by Sophie Erickson and Chevaz Clarke, with video contributions from Eddie Costas, Amy Marino, Ray Whitehouse, and Jordan Gantz.
This week, we delve into a national security scandal that caught many off guard — the first significant challenge for a new administration that prides itself on defying traditional norms. Recent revelations have surfaced, indicating that some of the nation’s highest-ranking officials were coordinating a bombing campaign in Yemen through the messaging app Signal. What makes this leak particularly striking is that these messages were inadvertently shared with a journalist from The Atlantic, sparking intense criticism regarding the administration’s management of state secrets and providing an unprecedented glimpse into the decision-making processes of military operations in the modern digital age, where emojis and instant messaging play a role.
The New York Times reporters Jess Bidgood, Helene Cooper, Zolan Kanno-Youngs, and David E. Sanger come together to discuss the implications of the Signal chat leak, what it reveals about the Trump administration, and the current political landscape in Washington.
- Jess Bidgood: Managing correspondent of the On Politics newsletter.
- Helene Cooper: Political reporter for The New York Times.
- Zolan Kanno-Youngs: White House correspondent for The New York Times, focusing on President Trump and his administration.
- David E. Sanger: White House and National Security Correspondent for The New York Times.
