After much back and forth about what actually constitutes a “war plan” and “classified information” in the wake of the big fat fail on the part of NSA Mike Waltz in adding Jeffrey Goldberg to his Signal chat group, Goldberg published the actual thread.

And that thread is… not really what Goldberg was selling. Yes, it contains lots of minute-by-minute information about the strike itself on the Houthis once it was underway, but honestly, the more interesting (and complex) parts are the policy discussions that precede the strike. If this thread is all that Goldberg has, then yes, there was a major fail on Waltz’s part that should earn either a reprimand or a firing from the president (Trump probably reprimanded privately and is supporting Waltz publicly), but operational security was not compromised. Goldberg did the correct thing in not advertising the attack beforehand, but he didn’t exactly have details to share in the first place.

Full Signal text chain has been released.

There's nothing in it but the pros and cons of striking now vs waiting a month.

It's not war plans. It's not classified info.

It's a conversation, and nice to see cabinet members and staffers hashing out the best way to move forward.… pic.twitter.com/OTNYgHr3VP

— Shawn Farash (@Shawn_Farash) March 26, 2025

There’s a reasonable argument to be made that even discussing a strike on the Houthis between these high level administration officials could be classified information… but once that strike happened, then any secrecy was obviously over. Yes, there is egg on the faces of several officials, and they really need to just STOP TALKING about it. Trying to dodge what happened, or claim it wasn’t a big deal, is completely the wrong strategy to pursue. The media and the Democrats want this to be THE BIG ONE that takes out someone, preferably Pete Hegseth or Mike Waltz. The more that those involve try to shrug it off, the more the Democrats want blood.

Which is why doubling down and giving this oxygen was such a self-own by Trump officials.

There wasn't much here, and there's nothing inherently wrong with officials discussing things in an encrypted chat (Signal chats began under Biden and are archived per the FRA). https://t.co/XxnU0RdFsJ

— Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) March 26, 2025

President Trump is standing by the Signal chat group as a whole. Does he like the bad headlines? Nope. Does he want to replace anyone? Also no. Could Mike Waltz man up and take responsibility for accidentally adding Goldberg to the chat group? Yes, and that would help take the wind out of this story.

But the Democrats are determined to never let a crisis go to waste. THIS IS THEIR MOMENT TO DRAW SOME BLOOD. (Afghanistan? What’s that?) So why not go for some lawfare and just sue everyone! American Oversight, which bills itself as a “government watchdog group,” got that legal ball rolling.

American Oversight alleges in its lawsuit that the chat on the unclassified commercial app that mistakenly included The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg violated federal records laws.

The suit that was filed in a D.C. federal court names Hegseth and officials including national intelligence director Tulsi Gabbard, CIA director John Ratcliffe, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Marco Rubio in his capacities as secretary of state and acting archivist.

American Oversight said in a statement it’s seeking to “recover unlawfully deleted messages and prevent further destruction.”

“The Federal Records Act requires federal officials to preserve communications related to official government business,” the nonprofit said.

“Generally, agencies ensure retention of messages sent on apps like Signal by setting policies requiring officials and personnel to forward them to official systems for proper archival or take other steps to preserve their content.”

But wait – just WHO got the case in D.C. federal court???

Anddd now you know why it was filed. https://t.co/NQ7AvCWAb8

— Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) March 26, 2025

Is Boasberg the only judge left in Washington D.C? It sure feels like it.

The Trump administration screwed up, and it would be better for everyone if they admitted it. But Democrats seem determined to make this a YUGE deal – and are making basic errors along the way.

At House Intel hearing, Democratic Rep. Himes goes in for the attack on FBI Director Patel over the Signal text chain. Patel has to remind Himes that he, Patel, was not on the text. Oops. You weren't? Himes asks. I wasn't, Patel answers.

— Byron York (@ByronYork) March 26, 2025

Yeah, how about checking on which official you are barking at about the Signal chat before accusing them of anything? Patel was in the same intelligence hearing as Tulsi Gabbard and John Ratcliffe, who were in the Signal chat, but he was not. Turns out Democrats aren’t very good at the whole “pouncing and seizing” thing. They always try to overplay their hand.

Speaking of which, Jeffrey Goldberg could do some explaining as well.

You know, amid all the mostly manufactured outrage, maybe this being a blatant lie should matter just a bit. pic.twitter.com/VPMdGnHFW0

— Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) March 26, 2025

Wait. Wait wait wait. Jeffrey Goldberg MADE STUFF UP?? I am SHOCKED. The same guy who made the “Trump called fallen veterans ‘suckers and losers'” claim and said he had evidence to back him up – and never came forward with it, just more hearsay, lied about the contents of the Signal chat for shock value? Goldberg had a perfectly juicy story literally dropped in his lap, and he just couldn’t help himself – he had to prove the point and do his fabulist thing.

With a lawsuit now in play, the rest of the Signal chat gang needs to take a page from Tulsi Gabbard and cite it as the reason they can no longer comment on the situation. Stop digging the proverbial hole, everyone. And for the love of all that is holy, check your contacts list before adding people to ANY chats.

Featured image via Pexels on Pixabay, cropped, Pixabay license