Leaked US plans for WW II, published to much controversy by Chicago Tribune, Dec 4, 1941. Image courtesy Tribune Co
Q1. On March 11, editor of The Atlantic magazine Jeffry Goldberg received a connection request from a user identified as "Michael Waltz" on Signal, a free encrypted communications app. Donald Trump's national security adviser is named Michael Waltz.
On March 13, Goldberg was added to a Signal group chat called "Houthi PC small group." Houthis are an Iran-backed terrorist organization in Yemen that has been attacking US and other western ships in the area since the start of the Hamas-Israel war. "PC" often means Principals Committee in government parlance. The eighteen other members of the group appeared to be high-ranking members of the Trump administration including the Vice President, Chief of Staff, and Secretary of State.
On March 15, a person who appeared to be Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth began posting information about an upcoming US airstrike on the Houthis. Two hours after those posts, a US airstrike on the Houthis began. The next day, Goldberg, whose ID in the chat was "JG," removed himself from the group.
How do you think Goldberg came to be in the group, and when should he have chosen to leave it?
On March 13, Goldberg was added to a Signal group chat called "Houthi PC small group." Houthis are an Iran-backed terrorist organization in Yemen that has been attacking US and other western ships in the area since the start of the Hamas-Israel war. "PC" often means Principals Committee in government parlance. The eighteen other members of the group appeared to be high-ranking members of the Trump administration including the Vice President, Chief of Staff, and Secretary of State.
On March 15, a person who appeared to be Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth began posting information about an upcoming US airstrike on the Houthis. Two hours after those posts, a US airstrike on the Houthis began. The next day, Goldberg, whose ID in the chat was "JG," removed himself from the group.
How do you think Goldberg came to be in the group, and when should he have chosen to leave it?
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
Don't care
1%
1%
1%
1%
1%
1%
0%
3%
1%
0%
Q2. On March 15 at 11.44 am, the person who appeared to be Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth posted:
TIME NOW (1144et): Weather is FAVORABLE. Just CONFIRMED w/CENTCOM we are a GO for mission launch
At 13.45et Trigger Based’ F-18 1st Strike Window Starts (Target Terrorist is @ his Known Location so SHOULD BE ON TIME
At 15.36et F-18 2nd Strike Starts – also, first sea-based Tomahawks launched
The attack on the Houthis began at approximately 13.55, as foretold. The White House confirmed the authenticity of the posts, though administration officials say the information was not classified (this is being investigated).
How do you feel about these messages in a group chat on a public app with a journalist present?
TIME NOW (1144et): Weather is FAVORABLE. Just CONFIRMED w/CENTCOM we are a GO for mission launch
At 13.45et Trigger Based’ F-18 1st Strike Window Starts (Target Terrorist is @ his Known Location so SHOULD BE ON TIME
At 15.36et F-18 2nd Strike Starts – also, first sea-based Tomahawks launched
The attack on the Houthis began at approximately 13.55, as foretold. The White House confirmed the authenticity of the posts, though administration officials say the information was not classified (this is being investigated).
How do you feel about these messages in a group chat on a public app with a journalist present?
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
Very concerned about lax security
56%
40%
71%
14%
63%
98%
64%
60%
48%
63%
Concerned
10%
16%
5%
20%
8%
1%
13%
6%
12%
11%
Neither concerned nor encouraged
14%
23%
6%
30%
9%
0%
19%
24%
10%
8%
Encouraged
1%
1%
1%
2%
0%
0%
0%
0%
3%
0%
Very encouraged by transparency
6%
6%
5%
11%
6%
0%
0%
1%
10%
7%
None reflect my view
5%
5%
5%
9%
10%
0%
4%
2%
8%
4%
Not sure
1%
0%
1%
0%
0%
1%
0%
2%
1%
Moot: Don't believe version of events
6%
7%
5%
13%
2%
0%
0%
5%
8%
6%
Don't care
1%
1%
0%
1%
1%
0%
0%
0%
1%
1%
Q3. Senator Mark Warner (D, VA), vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, has called for the firing of Hegseth for recklessly communicating sensitive information over a nongovernment channel, and of Waltz, who apparently mistakenly added Goldberg to the chat.
Others say the information disclosed was not classified (this is being investigated) and adding someone by mistake to a chat isn't a fireable offense.
Would you like to see either Hegseth or Waltz fired over their role?
Others say the information disclosed was not classified (this is being investigated) and adding someone by mistake to a chat isn't a fireable offense.
Would you like to see either Hegseth or Waltz fired over their role?
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
Don't care
0%
0%
0%
0%
1%
0%
0%
0%
0%
Nov 2024
https://www.fatfingerdata.com/poll/2100
36% Hegseth a great pick for Defense Secretary
10% OK pick
23% Not great but could be worse
27% terrible
Poll Comments (89)
