Photo credit: www.theguardian.com
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing scrutiny due to a significant communications error involving a private Signal group chat he initiated. This chat inadvertently included his wife, brother, and over a dozen other individuals, where he disclosed sensitive details about a US military strike on Yemen conducted earlier this March.
The use of Signal, a popular messaging app not sanctioned for sharing classified national defense information, has raised serious concerns about information security.
These developments follow a related incident weeks earlier, where National Security Advisor Mike Waltz also created a Signal chat to address details regarding the Yemen operation. This group unexpectedly included the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, leading to further complications highlighted in an article by the publication.
Addressing the first signal breach, President Trump characterized the situation as a mere “glitch.”
Here are the significant stories to note:
Pete Hegseth shared Yemen attack details in second Signal chat – report
Before the execution of military operations in Yemen this past March, Hegseth circulated crucial information via a privately held Signal group he established himself. This chat, which included his spouse, brother, and approximately a dozen other individuals, became a focal point of controversy when the New York Times reported on it.
Sources privy to the details of the group indicated that Hegseth provided flight schedules for F/A-18 Hornets designated to target Houthi forces, alongside other sensitive data, some of which had already been shared in a different Signal group formed by Mike Waltz.
Read the full story
US citizen wrongfully arrested by border patrol in Arizona held for nearly 10 days
Immigration authorities detained a US citizen for close to ten days in Arizona, as revealed by court documents and media reports.
Jose Hermosillo, a 19-year-old from New Mexico, encountered border patrol agents in Nogales, situated along the Mexico border south of Tucson. His erroneous arrest and subsequent detention come amid heightened focus on immigration enforcement tactics employed by the Trump administration.
Read the full story
Senator says trip to El Salvador was to support Kilmar Ábrego García’s due process
Senator Chris Van Hollen recently visited El Salvador to advocate for due process regarding Kilmar Ábrego García, who has found himself at the center of a wrongful deportation issue. Van Hollen emphasized that failing to uphold Ábrego García’s rights could signal a broader threat to constitutional guarantees for all individuals in the US.
The White House has alleged that Ábrego García is affiliated with the MS-13 gang, though he has never faced charges related to gang activity. The Supreme Court has ruled for his return to the US.
Read the full story
Amy Klobuchar calls on supreme court to hold Trump officials in contempt
Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota expressed concerns on Sunday regarding the potential for a constitutional crisis in the United States, asserting that current judicial actions, combined with rising discontent among Republicans regarding the Trump administration’s policies, are currently preventing such a scenario.
Klobuchar stated during an interview on CNN that the resilience of democracy relies on the judiciary and the accountability of constituents. She highlighted her view that Donald Trump is attempting to plunge the nation into a crisis.
Read the full story
Massachusetts governor calls Trump’s attacks on Harvard ‘bad for science’
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey criticized Donald Trump’s criticisms of Harvard University and similar institutions, highlighting the consequent negative effects on scientific research, including lab closures and funding cuts linked to associated hospitals.
In a discussion on CBS’s Face the Nation, Healey noted that these actions undermine “American competitiveness” by pushing researchers to seek opportunities abroad. She lamented the loss of intellectual resources after years of investment in science and innovation.
Read the full story
Trump draft order calls for drastic restructure of state department
A draft executive order reportedly circulating among US diplomats proposes a comprehensive overhaul of the State Department, suggesting significant reductions in operations related to sub-Saharan Africa and cuts to divisions addressing climate, refugees, human rights, democracy, and gender equality.
If implemented, these changes would represent one of the most substantial reorganizations of the department since its inception in 1789, as noted by Bloomberg, which obtained a copy of the 16-page document.
Read the full story
JD Vance granted lightning audience with Pope Francis in Vatican
In a brief meeting in Rome, Pope Francis and JD Vance exchanged Easter greetings, despite having previously expressed opposing views on the Trump administration’s immigration policies and deportation strategies.
This encounter took place one day following a meeting between the US Vice President, who is a recent convert to Roman Catholicism, and senior officials from the Vatican, where various international conflicts and immigration matters were discussed.
Read the full story
What else happened today:
It was a nation of dreams, built for the screen. Then it shattered. Read this essay by Stephen Marche: The America I loved is gone.
Tom Philipps, the Guardian’s Latin American correspondent, has penned a thought-provoking feature on the family of a Venezuelan musician incarcerated in El Salvador, who are grappling with uncertainty over his fate.
Catching up? Here’s what happened on April 19, 2025.
Source
www.theguardian.com