Intel Officials Testify on Global Threat Assessment, Signal Leak of Military Plans

Top intel officials testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday on national threats and the use of Signal to discuss war plans in Yemen. 

The Details: Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, FBI Director Kash Patel, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe were scheduled to testify to the panel on worldwide threat assessment, but after The Atlantic (Left bias) Editor-in-Chief Jeffery Goldberg was mistakenly added to a group chat on a military strike against the Houthis, they also faced questions on the group chat. 

The Chat: President Donald Trump said his National Security Director, Mike Waltz, "has learned a lesson, and he’s a good man,” adding that the Atlantic story was “the only glitch in two months, and turned out not to be a serious one.” Democratic Sen. Mark Warner opened the hearing by calling the group chat “just mind-boggling.” Other Democratic senators called for a formal investigation into the chat and resignations from some of those involved. Gabbard and Ratcliffe maintained that none of the information in the chat was classified. 

Annual Threat Assessment: Gabbard's report on the threat of China was similar to the Biden administration's, but added that transnational criminal groups, cartels, and gangs posed the largest threat to the US. She also commented on the threats posed by Iran, Russia, and unauthorized immigration from Mexico.

How The Media Covered It: Immediately following the hearing, outlets on the left highlighted Democratic senators calling for an investigation into the Signal chats and the resignation of top intel leaders. In its headline, Fox News (Right) also included Gabbard's claim that no classified material was shared.

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