The fire and punch emoji is still being felt all over Washington after a massive scandal on Monday. But there’s still a lot to be answered for. Will NSA Director Mike Waltz step down? Will we continue to see deportations of protestors? Will you be able to afford a car in a few years? We’ll look at all that and more. But first…
I should probably introduce myself. My name is Ananya Gondesi and I am a journalism, psychology, and criminal justice student here at GW. Starting from this week forward, I’ll be gathering the biggest headlines for the week in politics to ensure you have what you need.
Now, back to the news.
- SIGNALGATE
How many times have you been accidentally added to a group chat featuring high-ranking White House officials discussing classified war plans? Well, for Atlantic Editor in Chief Jeffrey Goldberg, it was once this past week.
Detailed in his piece for his publication, Goldberg went into detail about how he was added by NSA Director Mike Waltz, who immediately began to discuss information about strikes in Yemen. The information provided included when and where the strike occurred. Thinking it was some kind of fluke, Goldberg didn’t take it seriously but kept an eye on it. But when the strikes matched the information given in the chat, he realized he had stumbled upon a gold mine.
The pushback was strong and imminent. While Waltz admitted his mistake and said that he accidentally added Goldberg, Hegseth denied that any of it was true. Most of the other officials stayed silent on the matter immediately.
Calls erupted around Washington for Waltz to step down immediately. President Trump, who has a habit of posting most of his thoughts online, was strangely quiet about the incident. But he seems to be sticking with Waltz. Behind the scenes, he’s apparently fuming. Publicly, Trump was supportive. He admitted that Waltz had made a mistake, but said that he wasn’t going to fire him and that there was no important information shared in the chat.
In fact, that’s the position that most officials are taking. In a Senate Intelligence Committee Hearing Tuesday, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who were both in the chat, were heavily questioned about their involvement. While Gabbard broke from Ratcliffe and refused to say whether she was in the chat, both claimed that no classified information was shared.
However, according to legal standards, it very well could be. And it could have violated the Espionage Act.
Blame is now being shifted to Hegseth as well, as some claim that while Waltz added the journalist, Hegseth was the first to share classified information about Yemen in the chat.
With many downplaying the information in the chat, Goldberg released the full screenshots, which revealed even more damaging information. Take a read through yourself.
Republicans are in full crisis control. Some, like Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) are now calling for an investigation into the matter. Others, like Senator Markwayne Mullin(R-OK), are saying it’s a frank view into negotiations and that no mistakes were committed.
Democrats, on the other hand, are condemning the officials involved and calling for their resignation. If there’s any moment to step up for the party, now is it.
How did Waltz even have Goldberg’s number in the first place? Both individuals refused to comment on that, with Goldberg saying that they had met before but was still confused as to why Waltz would be reaching out.
- PEACE TALKS. THE EAST LISTENS.
After an already fragile ceasefire agreement made during the end of the Biden administration crumbled in the Middle East, it seems progress has been made in talks so far.
On Saturday, Hamas agreed to a ceasefire proposal submitted by negotiators, and Israel filed their own counterproposal. All of the details have not been released yet, but it is notable that Egypt offered a community support rule for Gaza. So far, it is not clear what the counterproposal indicates.
Just a little bit further, Ukraine and Russia also reached a mini ceasefire of their own. Negotiations were made to limit strikes on energy infrastructure and shipping in the Black Sea. However, this does not mean that the fighting is over or done. There are still plenty of strikes being carried out.
Both Russia and Ukraine are still going back and forth, indicating that it will take a while to come to an agreement on this ceasefire.
- MORE STUDENTS DETAINED
Fears of deportation are spreading across campuses in the US. Just a week after the detention of green card holder Mahmoud Khalil, another student has also been detained.
Rumeysa Ozturk, a Tufts graduate student, was detained on her campus. In a video released soon after, Ozturk can be seen walking and being approached by masked officials who immediately begin to grab at her arms, presumably to detain her. Within a minute, they remove her backpack, handcuff her, and walk her away. It is important to note officials did not show their badges until after they had restrained her.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed the detention and canceled her visa. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called her a danger, saying that her words would have “potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences.”
The words in question come from a March 2024 op-ed in Tufts University media in which she argued for the university to divest, a common demand from many of the pro-Palestinian protests that took place last spring.
While government officials worked to detain her, a federal judge issued an order protecting her from being deported, saying that nothing could happen until the court could determine that she was lawfully detained.
Ozturk’s arrest comes as Mahmoud Khalil, another university student who faces deportation, continues his trial.
- GREENLAND – NOT SO GREEN AFTER ALL
Vice President JD Vance, accompanied by Second Lady Usha Vance, NSA Director Mike Waltz, and Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) made his way to Greenland Friday as talks from the Trump administration on annexing the country continue.
In his speech to constituents there, Vance heavily criticized the government and claimed that they weren’t properly taking care of the citizens.
“You have underinvested in the people of Greenland,” Vance said. “That has to change. And because it hasn’t changed, this is why President Trump’s policy in Greenland is what it is.”
Trump continues to stick by his decision to move in on Greenland, citing that it would be a security concern if he doesn’t do so, echoing earlier sentiments. When asked about military force, Trump did not back down from considering it to annex Greenland.
“I never take military force off the table,” Trump said. “But I think there’s a good possibility that we could do it without force.”
So…51st state? Stay tuned.
- FAST AND FURIOUS TARIFFS
Trump announced 25% tariffs across the board for all countries on imported cars, light trucks, and auto parts, which will take effect on April 3rd. And no, it’s not April Fools.
The tariffs discriminate against no one, even against most of America’s trading partners. The AP also reports that it is unclear whether that would mean a 50% tariff on Canada and Mexico because it might stack on the already 25% tariff that has been levied against them.
Canada, not surprisingly, is not happy.
Mark Carney, the new prime minister of Canada, made his own statement in which he pledged he would give reciprocal tariffs, even chillingly commenting on the now icy relationship between the two neighbors Tuesday at a press conference: “The old relationship we had with the United States based on deepening integration of our economies and tight security and military cooperation is over.”
Powerful words. But the tariffs are even more powerful. Some say that they are very worried that this will make prices skyrocket. There are already reports from the AP that cars could cost an additional $5,000-$10,000 apiece.
But President Trump just doesn’t seem to care.
“I couldn’t care less if they raise prices,” he told NBC News, “because people are going to start buying American-made cars.”
CONTINUE READING:
University of Minnesota says graduate student was detained by ICE
‘PATHETIC’ Europe may finally be waking up from its military slumber | CNN
How Vance’s comments in the Signal scandal undermine Trump
‘Tesla Takedown’ campaign erupts for its biggest protest weekend yet : NPR
Elon Musk is building an AI giant — and Tesla will be central | Semafor
Republicans Should Get Rid of What’s Left of the Inflation Reduction Act | National Review (OPINION – CONSERVATIVE)
Trump wants SCOTUS to save his elections executive order | Opinion (OPINION – LIBERAL)
There’s always something going on in Trump-world. A colleague told me he had never seen anything like this in his 20+ years in journalism. My goal is to make sure that you are able to walk away feeling like you have the biggest events down.
Knowledge is power. In this administration, and at any point in history, politics is always a tool for power. While the politicians wield it, citizens can forget to. Now is the time to get engaged. Now is the time to pay attention.
Until then, I’ll be reporting.
