Trump cabinet members face lawsuit over military plans group text

[CRAIG NIGRELLI]

GOOD MORNING

I’M CRAIG NIGRELLI

IT’S WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025 AND THESE ARE YOUR UNBIASED UPDATES. 

AND THESE ARE YOUR UNBIASED UPDATES:

A TOP TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL TAKES RESPONSIBILITY FOR A GROUP CHAT THAT INADVERTENTLY INCLUDED A JOURNALIST ABOUT THE UNITED STATES PLANS TO BOMBARD THE HOUTHI REBELS.  WHAT HE SAID SPECIFICALLY AND WHAT HAPPENS FROM HERE. 

ALSO– HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON ON THE FEDERAL COURTS THAT ARE BLOCKING THE PRESIDENT’S EXECUTIVE ACTIONS.  WHY HE SAYS “DESPERATE TIMES CALL FOR DESPERATE MEASURES” AND WHAT HE MEANS BY THAT.

L3: TRUMP CABINET MEMBERS FACE LAWSUIT OVER GROUP TEXT ABOUT MILITARY PLANS

THIS MORNING — THE. FALLOUT CONTINUES AFTER TOP TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS INADVERTENTLY ADDED A JOURNALIST TO AN UNSECURED SIGNAL GROUP CHAT WHILE DISCUSSING PLANS FOR A U-S ATTACK ON HOUTHI REBELS IN YEMEN., EARLIER THIS MONTH.

FIVE CABINET MEMBERS ARE NOW FACING A FEDERAL LAWSUIT OVER THEIR ALLEGED USE OF THE APP “SIGNAL” FOR THAT CONVERSATION.

THE DEFENDANTS INCLUDE DEFENSE SECRETARY PETE HEGSETH, TREASURY SECRETARY SCOTT BESSENT AND SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO…

NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE DIRECTOR TULSI GABBARD AND C-I-A DIRECTOR JOHN RATCLIFFE, — AS WELL AS THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION.

IN THE LAWSUIT, AMERICAN OVERSIGHT — A NONPARTISAN NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION — ALLEGES THE USE OF THE APP VIOLATES THE FEDERAL LAW THAT GOVERNS THE PRESERVATION OF GOVERNMENT RECORDS.

THE GROUP WANTS A FEDERAL JUDGE TO ORDER THE CABINET MEMBERS TO PRESERVE THE MESSAGES.

LAWYERS ARE ALSO ASKING FOR A JUDGE TO DECLARE THE USE OF “SIGNAL” UNLAWFUL.

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP SAYS HE WILL LOOK INTO THE SECURITY BREACH. HE HAS  DEFENDED NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER MIKE WALTZ, WHO HAS TAKEN FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE INCIDENT — SAYING HE STARTED THE CHAT GROUP.

“No, I don’t think he should apologize. I think he’s doing his best. It’s equipment and technology that’s not perfect. And probably he won’t be using it again, at least not in the very near future.”

IN AN INTERVIEW WITH FOX NEWS LAST NIGHT, WALTZ REITERATED THAT HE TAKES RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE INCIDENT,  BUT THEN TURNED THE CONVERSATION ON THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION THAT HE SAYS NEGLECTED THE HOUTHIS ATTACKS ON AMERICAN SHIPS IN THE RED SEA, 

“Embarrassing? Yes, but Pete and I are veterans. We know these operations. He has been an excellent secretary of defense and this was an operation that… I mean, it amazes me. I guess the Democrats were fine to leave all the sea lanes shut down, were fine to have destroyers fired on dozens of times by this terrorist group, and fine to have Iran keep supplying them missiles. That was okay. The president takes decisive action, and now we’re seeing some real success in taking down their air defenses, opening the sea lanes, taking out their leadership. We don’t want to talk about that.”

WALTZ ADDED HE DOES NOT KNOW THE JOURNALIST WHO WAS INCLUDED IN THE CHAT — “THE ATLANTIC” EDITOR-IN-CHIEF JEFFREY GOLDBERG — BUT SAID HE’S GOING TO QUOTE “GET TO THE BOTTOM OF HOW THIS HAPPENED” AND SAID THE “BEST TECHNICAL MINDS” ARE LOOKING INTO HOW THE INCIDENT HAPPENED, MENTIONING TECH BILLIONAIRE AND TRUMP ALLY ELON MUSK BY NAME.

L3: TRUMP SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER OVERHAULING FEDERAL ELECTIONS

PRESIDENT TRUMP’S LATEST EXECUTIVE ORDER WILL BRING SWEEPING CHANGES TO THE WAY AMERICAN VOTE IN THE NEXT FEDERAL ELECTION.

STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS REPORTER LAUREN TAYLOR BREAKS DOWN WHAT THE ORDER ENTAILS.

LEGAL EXPERTS SAY THE PRESIDENT DOES NOT HAVE AUTHORITY OVER ELECTIONS.

THE CONSTITUTION GIVES CONGRESS AND INDIVIDUAL STATES POWER TO REGULATE THE “TIMES, PLACES AND MANNER OF HOLDING ELECTIONS.”

L3: LAWMAKERS WEIGH OPTIONS AS JUDGES BLOCK CERTAIN TRUMP ORDERS

SINCE TAKING OFFICE IN JANUARY PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS MADE A SLEW OF MOVES DOING EVERYTHING FROM RESTRUCTURING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, TO CRACKING DOWN ON UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS.

A NUMBER OF HIS ORDERS ARE ALREADY FACING LEGAL CHALLENGES — AND IN SOME CASES, FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT JUDGES HAVE BLOCKED THE PRESIDENT’S ORDERS.

LAST WEEK — PRESIDENT TRUMP AUTHORIZED ATTORNEY GENERAL PAM BONDI AND HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY KRISTI NOEM TO SANCTION LAW FIRMS,  THAT FILE WHAT THEY DEEM TO BE “FRIVOLOUS” LAWSUITS AGAINST HIS ADMINISTRATION.

NOW, ONE OF THE G-O-P’S TOP LEADERS HAS SUGGESTED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COULD TAKE IT EVEN FURTHER.

STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT RAY BOGAN EXPLAINS HOW.

EVEN IF ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT ARE BROUGHT AGAINST FEDERAL DISTRICT JUDGES,  WHO OPPOSE PRESIDENT TRUMP — IMPEACHMENT IS SEEN AS A LARGELY FUTILE EFFORT,  BECAUSE **AT LEAST** 14 SENATE DEMOCRATS WOULD HAVE TO JOIN REPUBLICANS IN CONVICTING AND REMOVING ANY OF THE JUDGES. THE CONSTITUTION REQUIRES A 2/3RDS VOTE IN THE SENATE TO CONVICT, NOT JUST A SIMPLY MAJORITY.

L3: VICE PRESIDENT TO JOIN SECOND LADY ON TRIP TO GREENLAND

EARLIER THIS WEEK WE TOLD YOU HOW THE WIFE OF VICE PRESIDENT JD VANCE AND NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER MIKE WALTZ WOULD BE TRAVELING TO GREENLAND LATER THIS WEEK, A TERRITORY THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS REPEATEDLY TALKED ABOUT ANNEXING OR TAKING UNDER AMERICAN CONTROL. 

NOW IT APPEARS THE ITINERARY  HAS CHANGED.

VICE PRESIDENT VANCE, IN A VIDEO RELEASED ON TUESDAY, SAYS HE’S GOING.

“Speaking for President Trump, we want to reinvigorate the security of the people of Greenland because we think it’s important to protecting the security of the entire world.”

VANCE IS EXPECTED TO VISIT THE U-S MILITARY BASE ON GREENLAND WHICH WILL ERASE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT PROTOCOL.

THE GREENLAND GOVERNMENT HAD POSTED ON FACEBOOK ON MONDAY NIGHT THAT IT HAD “NOT EXTENDED ANY INVITATIONS FOR ANY VISITS, NEITHER PRIVATE NOR LOCAL.”

VANCE AND HIS WIFE USHA WILL BE LEAVING FOR GREENLAND ON FRIDAY.

HOWEVER, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER, MIKE WALTZ, WHO WAS INITIALLY SLATED TO GO, IS NO LONGER ON THE LIST.

GREENLAND IS NOW SEEN AS A STRATEGIC TERRITORY AND GATEWAY TO THE ARCTIC AND THE NORTH ATLANTIC, THAT BOTH CHINA AND RUSSIA ARE INTERESTED IN.

GREENLAND IS OFFICIALLY A SELF-GOVERNING REGION WITHIN DENMARK.

IT THE WORLD’S LARGEST ISLAND AND ALSO RICH IN MINERALS.

L3: RUSSIA AND UKRAINE AGREE TO BLACK SEA CEASEFIRE AFTER TALKS WITH U.S.

NOW TO THE WAR IN UKRAINE — RUSSIA AND UKRAINE HAVE AGREED TO A CEASEFIRE IN THE BLACK SEA FOLLOWING TALKS involving  TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS THIS WEEK IN SAUDI ARABIA.

IN A STATEMENT — THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS THE DEAL WILL QUOTE “ENSURE SAFE NAVIGATION… ELIMINATE THE USE OF FORCE… AND PREVENT THE USE OF COMMERCIAL VESSELS FOR MILITARY PURPOSES IN THE BLACK SEA.”

at A PRESS CONFERENCE YESTERDAY — UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY SAID THE AGREEMENT TOOK EFFECT IMMEDIATELY… AND NOTED THAT THE WHITE HOUSE STATEMENT DID **NOT** SPECIFY WHAT ACTIONS — IF ANY — WOULD BE TAKEN IF RUSSIA VIOLATES THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT.

HE SAID UKRAINE WILL ASK THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FOR MORE WEAPONS AND ADDITIONAL SANCTIONS AGAINST RUSSIA IF THAT HAPPENS.

THE WHITE HOUSE ALSO SAID THE U-S AGREED WITH RUSSIA AND UKRAINE TO  “DEVELOP MEASURES FOR IMPLEMENTING” AGREEMENTS BETWEEN PRESIDENT TRUMP, PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY, AND RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN “TO BAN STRIKES AGAINST ENERGY FACILITIES OF RUSSIA AND UKRAINE.”

L3: HOCKEY’S ALEX OVECHKIN NOW JUST 6 GOALS AWAY FROM TOPPING ‘THE GREAT ONE’

FINALLY, ONE OF HOCKEY’S GREATEST RECORDS IS CLOSER TO GETTING BROKEN.

ALEX OVECHKIN IS GETTING CLOSER TO SNAPPING WAYNE GRETZKY’S RECORD FOR MOST GOALS EVER SCORED IN A CAREER.

OVECHKIN SCORED AGAIN LAST NIGHT FOR THE WASHINGTON CAPITALS AGAINST WINNIPEG, GIVING HIM 889 GOALS ALL-TIME.

HE IS FIVE GOALS SHY OF TYING GRETZKY’S RECORD OF 894 AND SIX GOALS WAY FROM BREAKING IT.

IT’S A BIT OF A RACE AGAINST TIME AS WASHINGTON ONLY HAS ELEVEN GAMES LEFT IN THE REGULAR SEASON.

SO IF OVECHKIN DOES NOT BREAK THE RECORD THIS SEASON, FANS WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL OCTOBER AND NEXT SEASON FOR THE COUNTDOWN TO CONTINUE.

SAFE TO SAY, HE’S EVENTUALLY GOING TO DO IT, THE QUESTION IS WHEN.

IN WASHINGTON, THEY REFER TO OVECHKIN, WHO WEARS NUMBER 8, AS THE GREAT  8,  WHILE GRETZKY IS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS THE GREAT ONE.