What Did the Trump Admin Just Say in the Group Chat?

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Politics

What Did the Trump Admin Just Say in the Group Chat?

What's going on: Ever sent a text to the wrong person and instantly regretted it? Now imagine top Trump administration officials discussing US military strikes — and accidentally adding The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, to the chat. Goldberg says senior officials used the encrypted message app Signal (which is not approved by the government for sharing classified information) to coordinate US airstrikes on Yemen’s Houthi rebels, casually dropping details about the timing, weaponry, and target locations. Accounts identified as Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and National Security Adviser Michael Waltz spent days messaging the chain — sending American flag, flexed bicep, and fire emojis. The Atlantic summed it up bluntly: “The group was transmitting information to someone not authorized to receive it. That is the classic definition of a leak.” (Insert head explosion emoji.)

What it means: The fallout has been swift. Democrats are calling for immediate hearings, with Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, accusing the administration of “playing fast and loose” with classified information. (The user of a very specific email server has thoughts.) Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA), went even further, calling it “incompetence so severe that it could have gotten Americans killed.” The leaked messages also exposed growing tensions with Europe and a rare example of Vance breaking with President Donald Trump. “Vance” questioned why the US should intervene when European nations stood to benefit more, writing “I hate bailing Europe out again.” “Hegseth” agreed, calling Europe’s inaction “PATHETIC.” (Oh, to be a fly on the wall at the next EU briefing.) As Republicans try to contain the damage, it’s unclear what, if any, consequences officials will face. Hegseth has denied that anyone was “texting war plans,” even though White House officials confirmed the group chat’s existence. Trump, when asked, said: “I don’t know anything about it. I’m not a big fan of The Atlantic.”

Related: The Memes About This Security Breach Are Writing Themselves (Buzzfeed)

International

Greenland Didn't Ask for an RSVP… Because It Never Sent an Invite

What's going on: Greenland is making it clear — senior Trump administration officials are not getting a warm welcome this week. On Thursday, Second Lady Usha Vance and her son are set to kick off their visit to Greenland, with a cultural site tour and a dog sled competition sponsored by the US (we know, random). National Security Adviser Michael Waltz will also be on the island to tour a US military base, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio might make an appearance — parka pending. The planned visits have prompted an icy response, with Greenland Prime Minister Múte Bourup Egede calling them part of a “very aggressive” US pressure campaign to take over the island. He added that the delegation wasn’t even invited. Talk about an unwanted guest. 

What it means: President Trump has been clear about his desire for the US to take over Greenland — just as Greenlanders have shown they don’t want to be Americans. Now, Greenlandic officials say the Trump administration is taking advantage of the territory, which is negotiating a new government following parliamentary elections. While Egede said the visits “will no doubt fuel American belief in Trump’s mission,” the White House maintains it has a “vested security interest in the Arctic region.” We didn’t think a dog sledding competition could be the next site of a geopolitical showdown, but pass the hot chocolate, because here we are.

Related: Canadians Are Taking Boycotts Against the US to the Next Level (WSJ Gift Link)

Lifestyle

The "Conservative Cosmo" Has a Lot To Say 

What's going on: These days, where you get your news says a lot about you — and Brittany Hugoboom knows it. As co-founder and editor-in-chief of Evie — a women’s magazine that pushes back against what she calls “modern” feminism — she’s built a platform that blends White Lotus reviews with critiques of no-fault divorce, birth control, and IVF. Hugoboom told The New York Times that Evie is meant to counter what she sees as a women’s media landscape dripping with liberal perspectives. Instead, she’s serving up content hailing traditional femininity and motherhood for women who “want a soft life.” Think: tradwife aesthetics meets the right-wing “girly-pop ecosystem.”

What it means: Some polls suggest young women are the most progressive generation in American history — backed up by former VP Kamala Harris’s 18-point win among them in November. But Evie is tapping into a different energy: a growing frustration among women who feel overlooked by mainstream media. Some say the magazine and others like it could evolve (and maybe already has?) into a powerful Republican messaging tool. Even big-name conservative influencers like Brett Cooper say Evie’s been “ahead of the curve” in speaking to conservative women. One analyst noted that right-wing media is successfully reaching “moderate, apolitical, exhausted women” feeling aggrieved by the lack of support for working moms. Critics, meanwhile, say that Evie is promoting dangerous ideas and illustrates just how polarized media has become.

Related: These Influencers Are Shifting What It Means To Have a Right-Wing Podcast (The Conversation) 

Your Political Briefing

The week in political chaos.

The data doesn’t lie: Early on in President Donald Trump’s term, Elon Musk promised to take his metaphorical DOGE chainsaw to the Social Security Administration — now he’s struggling to find many instances of fraud. 

Paying tribute: Mia Love, the first Black Republican woman elected to Congress, died of brain cancer at 49. Gov. Spencer Cox (R-UT) called her “a true trailblazer and visionary leader.”

Mirror, mirror on the wall: Trump called a painting of him hanging in Colorado’s state capitol “truly the worst.” Maybe he’ll like the one Russian President Vladimir Putin just gifted him.

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Honor

Over 137 years ago, 33 visionaries, explorers, scientists, and scholars came together to found National Geographic. Now, the magazine is honoring 33 changemakers who are actively making today’s world a better place. The inaugural list features Hollywood stars, fearless scientists, climate warriors, and trailblazing entrepreneurs. Among them: actress, singer, and entrepreneur Selena Gomez, included for supporting global mental health; Oscar-winning actress Michelle Yeoh, honored for shining a light on the burdens women face in disaster zones; and climber Carla Pérez, spotlighted for helping climbers with disabilities reach new heights. See who else made the cut.*

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